New Balance signed Shohei Ohtani, the best two-way player in baseball and now the shoe company has landed Duke five-star freshman Cooper Flagg, the best two-way prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft. New Balance announced Monday that Flagg is joining its growing roster.
The company, which has an athletic footwear factory near Flagg's hometown of Newport, Maine, revealed its newest addition on social media.
Cooper Flagg, The Intelligent Choice. pic.twitter.com/JvvvMM9lfm
— New Balance (@newbalance) August 26, 2024
"The connection with New Balance as a family company and a company with Maine roots means a lot to me," Flagg told ESPN. "That makes this really different and special. My mom used to go to the tent sale for back-to-school shopping there when we were kids. That really aligns the brand with my roots. It's a perfect fit."
Flagg to wear Nike in Duke's games
Duke and Nike have been partners since 1992, and they have a contract through 2027. Flagg's deal with New Balance has no impact on that. Flagg will suit up in Nike apparel for anything he does with the Blue Devils, Duke confirmed to CBS Sports on Monday.
It's the final domino of a jam-packed summer for Flagg who starts fall classes at Duke on Monday.
Flagg put on a show against Team USA in early July. Flagg was the lone high school prospect on the select club who scrimmaged against LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Team USA before the Paris Olympic Games.
Flagg also won the Gatorade Best Male Player of the Year award at the 2024 ESPYs and hosted a basketball camp at the University of Maine.
"It means everything to me," Flagg told CBS Sports in July. "Coming from a small town, knowing everybody. Having a very tight circle. We call it our village back home. Just having that support system from a young age. Being tight-knit, close to all my people has helped my people through this process so much."
Flagg will be key to Blue Devils' success
With an endorsement deal in tow, Flagg can now focus on basketball. Duke is one of the Tier I, National Championship contenders in 2024-25, and its defense is a big reason why. If any team can supplant Houston or Iowa State as the best defense in the sport, it might be Duke. Jon Scheyer's club is armed to the teeth with size and elite, All-ACC defenders at multiple levels. Tyrese Proctor is an elite on-ball defender. Sion James is a fantastic wing defender. Flagg is one of the best defensive prospects coming up through the ranks in years. Syracuse transfer Maliq Brown was an All-ACC defensive team selection last season, and 7-foot-2 center Khaman Maluach provides an intimidating rim protector.
"We have so many versatile guys defensively," Flagg said. "We have such a tall lineup. That doesn't mean we're not quick also. We have big guards who can sit down and guard small guards. We're going to be so versatile in the way we defend. We'll be able to pick our spots and pick our coverage on the way we guard. I think we can be very tactical with the way we guard this year. I'm so excited to get this going."
