Latest news with #JonScheyer
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Secrets of the NBA Draft... and what the TV cameras didn't show you
Ace Bailey wasn't expecting to hear his name called. Not here. Not by Utah, whom he didn't work out for, and were not one of his 'preferred' destinations, according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony. But after reportedly trying to land himself on an East Coast team - even throwing out the first pitch at a recent Mets game - the Jazz picked him anyway, leaving him seemingly perplexed before telling reporters he had 'no idea' Utah were interested. He later called his new opportunity a 'blessing.' The polarizing Rutgers star, whose attitude was perhaps unfairly picked apart during the pre-draft process, showed a softer side roughly an hour before hearing his name called at No. 5, as he took a moment to scribble his autograph on some basketballs for fans. It wouldn't be much longer before he went up on stage in his red-and-black, Scarlet-Knights themed suit to shake commissioner Adam Silver's hand. But away from the bright lights, there was plenty more observed by the Daily Mail on Wednesday as well. Just after the conclusion of the first round on Wednesday, Duke coach Jon Scheyer was rushing away from the Barclays Center when he was intercepted by a young fan hoping for a photo. It would've been easy for the Blue Devils legend to keep moving. But after a tremendous night for Scheyer and Duke, in which three of his ex-players became top-10 picks, perhaps it shouldn't have been a surprise that he happily obliged on the Brooklyn sidewalk with a smile on his face. It had only been a few hours earlier that Cooper Flagg went No. 1, followed by Kon Knueppel at No. 4 and Khaman Maluach at 10, with the latter being subsequently traded from to Phoenix from Houston. Flagg's selection by Dallas at No. 1 came as no surprise, so one would have expected his post-draft engagements to be cleanly mapped out ahead of time. However, the forward wasn't made available to reporters until more than an hour after he heard his name called, as the No. 2 pick Dylan Harper actually lapped him and spoke first. Flagg was promptly met with a question about 'conspiracy theorists' suggesting the draft lottery was rigged when he finally sat down. Knueppel, too, was curiously asked about continuing his studies while with the Hornets, while Maluach - who didn't begin playing basketball until he was 13 - was a fan favorite on the night. With Flagg, Harper, VJ Edgecombe and twenty other names invited to sit in the green room, this was a star-studded draft - and that was reflected by some of the non-player names in attendance. Restauranteur Mario Carbone appeared to be on the floor ahead of the night beginning in proper, while Knicks superfan Spike Lee sat quietly with a friend - despite the fact New York didn't have a first-round selection. Spike Lee was also in attendance even though the Knicks didn't have a first-round pick Olympian Suni Lee, who even performed red carpet interviews beforehand, was seen taking in the draft on the ground floor as well. In one somewhat surreal moment, the older Lee actually rebuffed a young Knicks fan asking for a photo, as the famed director was still having a conversation with someone else. It's unclear if he later accepted the request. Several other instances from the stands proved to much cheerier. An apparent family member or friend of Jeremiah Fears' wailed in delight after he was selected No. 7 by the Pelicans. The crowd erupted when South Sudan-born Maluach - was picked, with one Duke fan duly holding up a poster from the stands in celebration. That sort of love seemed to extend to his fellow draftees, as he later shared a hearty handshake with fellow international Hansen Yang in the media room. Yang, a Chinese center, went earlier than expected at No. 16 to the Blazers (after a trade with the Grizzlies), and drew a massive swarm of media at his stand-up interview following his press conference. Another perceived reach was Egor Demin, whom the Nets selected at No. 8 - their first lottery pick in 15 years - inside their home arena. There was a smattering of boos after the surprising pick (Demin had been mocked at least several picks lower), though the Russian point guard later compared to the game of basketball to 'art' and said he had 'no doubt' he would develop into an effective shooter. The moment dreams turned into reality 🦁💙 #WeAre | #NBADraft — Penn State Men's Basketball (@PennStateMBB) June 26, 2025 Plenty of other moments colored what was an exciting and at-times surprising NBA Draft night. A TikTokker from the popular ' account quizzed fans on the concourse. Former Arizona guard Carter Bryant shared a handshake with a prominent college basketball reporter after getting selected by the Spurs. With just five picks remaining in the first round, all but two of the Green Room invites had been selected. But one was about to give the Barclays Center a final jolt of energy, as the Nets prepared for their final two picks of the night (of a record five). Michigan's Danny Wolf remained on the board at No. 27, and after some 'Brooklyn' chants from the home crowd, one group of fans (including one in Wolf's college jersey) started cheering for the big man from their seats on the side of the stage. Whether they thought they had seen a clue he was about to be taken by the Nets - or just tried to will it into existence - that wish soon became true as the Nets selected the 7-footer. Shortly after, Liam McNeeley became the final invitee off the board a couple of picks later, though he was actually not the final player to grace the stage with Silver. With the last pick of the night, the Clippers selected Swiss center Yanic Konan Niederhauser, who sprinted from a box in the Barclays Center to the stage upon learning he would be drafted. There was little doubt left as to where he had been sitting moments before when a small group of people went wild in the far corner of the arena. The Barclays Center crowd, meanwhile, seemed unfamiliar with the former Penn State player.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Duke Basketball Sends Strong Kon Knueppel Message Before NBA Draft
Duke Basketball Sends Strong Kon Knueppel Message Before NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Duke Blue Devils basketball program produced some of the most highly-touted prospects in this year's 2025 NBA draft class. Advertisement Reigning National Player of the Year Cooper Flagg is expected to go No. 1 overall to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, and his Duke teammate Kon Knueppel won't be far behind. Knueppel is widely considered a top-5 prospect in the upcoming selection process. On Wednesday afternoon, the Duke basketball program took to social media with a strong message regarding their one-and-done sharpshooter. "Best shooter in the draft & he does everything well. K2 is an easy early pick," the team wrote on X. Knueppel, the ACC Tournament MVP, averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in his freshman season with the Blue Devils. The 19-year-old shooting guard connected on 47.9% of his shots from the field and 40.6% of his attempts from behind the 3-point arc. Duke Blue Devils stars Cooper Flagg (2) and Kon Knueppel (7).© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images "Loved having Kon in our program," Duke coach Jon Scheyer said after Knueppel declared for the draft. "So proud of him and what he did this season. He's a guy that is about competition. He never shied away from the competitive plays that have to be made in order to win at a high level. As a freshman, Kon understood that. He played both sides of the ball. He had big scoring games... I loved the growth that he made and can't wait to see what he's going to do at the next level, with a long, successful NBA career." Advertisement The 2025 NBA draft will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Related: NBA Prospect Ace Bailey Under Fire for Pre-Draft Behavior This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
NBA: Dallas Mavericks pick Cooper Flagg with No.1 draft pick
By Wayne Sterling, CNN Duke University forward Cooper Flagg Photo: CNN The 18-year-old is the second youngest player ever to be drafted No. 1 overall. Only LeBron James was younger when he was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. "I feel amazing," Flagg said after his name was called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver. "It's a dream come true to be honest." Flagg paid homage to his family and his hometown. "I wouldn't want to share it with anyone else," he said. "I wouldn't be here without these people right here and all my people back home in Maine. … It just means so much to see everyone here and supporting me." Maine governor Janet Mills proclaimed June 25 as "Cooper Flagg Day," celebrating the Newport native's "remarkable basketball achievement." Flagg, the consensus 2024-2025 National College Player of the Year, cemented himself as one of the top players in college last season as a freshman. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals in 37 games for the Blue Devils, who lost in the men's basketball Final Four to the University of Houston in the final minutes. Flagg led Duke in all the five major statistical categories. Flagg became the fourth freshman in NCAA history to win the Wooden Award, given to the nation's top player. The other three players were Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, who will be Flagg's teammate in Dallas, and Zion Williamson. In January, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said about his star, "He's a savant with the game. He just really has an amazing understanding for what's required to win and how to elevate everyone around him." Unlike most No. 1 overall picks, Flagg will be a part of an established and talented team, consisting of NBA champions Kyrie Irving, Davis and Klay Thompson. Dallas will look to reset its franchise with the Flagg selection after trading popular All-NBA guard Luka Dončić in February to the Los Angeles Lakers, sparking a huge amount of backlash from their fanbase. Flagg said he wouldn't feel any pressure in Dallas after the controversial Dončić trade. "I'm just going to try to be myself all the time, and I'm going to push myself to be better and better every single day and make the most out of every day," Flagg said. "I'm not worried about living up to certain players' expectations or things like that. I'm just going to be myself and really just try to get better every single day that I can." He added: "I've heard it's an incredible fan base with incredible support, so I'll be excited to learn more about it and get down there." The Mavericks said Flagg will wear jersey No. 32. Flagg is the fifth Blue Devil to go No. 1 overall in the last 30 years, joining Elton Brand (Chicago Bulls 1999), Irving (Cavaliers 2011), Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans 2019) and Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic 2022). -CNN
CNN
3 days ago
- Sport
- CNN
Duke phenom Cooper Flagg goes to Dallas Mavericks with No. 1 overall pick in NBA draft
The Dallas Mavericks selected Duke University forward Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in Wednesday's NBA draft in Brooklyn, New York. The 18-year-old is the second youngest player ever to be drafted No. 1 overall. Only LeBron James was younger when he was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. Flagg, the consensus 2024-2025 National College Player of the Year, cemented himself as one of the top players in college last season as a freshman. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals in 37 games for the Blue Devils, who lost in the men's basketball Final Four to the University of Houston in the final minutes. Flagg led Duke in all the five major statistical categories. Speaking to reporters on the eve of the draft, the 18-year-old phenom said it's a 'surreal' feeling to possibly be chosen No. 1. FLAGG CAPTURED!WELCOME TO DALLAS, COOPER! @Academy // #FlaggCaptured #MFFL 'It's incredible to be here, be in these moments. This is stuff I've dreamed about since I was a little kid, so I think being here is surreal,' Flagg said Tuesday. 'I don't think it's really set in yet or anything but I'm just trying to go through each moment and just enjoy it.' Flagg became the fourth freshman in NCAA history to win the Wooden Award, given to the nation's top player. The other three players were Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, who will be Flagg's teammate in Dallas, and Zion Williamson. In January, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said about his star, 'He's a savant with the game. He just really has an amazing understanding for what's required to win and how to elevate everyone around him.' Unlike most No. 1 overall picks, Flagg will be a part of an established and talented team, consisting of NBA champions Kyrie Irving, Davis and Klay Thompson. Dallas will look to reset its franchise with the Flagg selection after trading popular All-NBA guard Luka Dončić in February to the Los Angeles Lakers, sparking a huge amount of backlash from their fanbase. Tuesday, Flagg said he wouldn't feel any pressure in Dallas after the controversial Dončić trade. 'I'm just going to try to be myself all the time, and I'm going to push myself to be better and better every single day and make the most out of every day,' Flagg said. 'I'm not worried about living up to certain players' expectations or things like that. I'm just going to be myself and really just try to get better every single day that I can.' He added: 'I've heard it's an incredible fan base with incredible support, so I'll be excited to learn more about it and get down there.' Flagg is the fifth Blue Devil to go No. 1 overall in the last 30 years, joining Elton Brand (Chicago Bulls 1999), Irving (Cavaliers 2011), Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans 2019) and Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic 2022). Meanwhile in Flagg's home state of Maine, governor Janet Mills proclaimed June 25 as 'Cooper Flagg Day,' celebrating the Newport native's 'remarkable basketball achievement.' This is a developing story and will be updated.
CNN
3 days ago
- Sport
- CNN
Duke phenom Cooper Flagg goes to Dallas Mavericks with No. 1 overall pick in NBA draft
The Dallas Mavericks selected Duke University forward Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in Wednesday's NBA draft in Brooklyn, New York. The 18-year-old is the second youngest player ever to be drafted No. 1 overall. Only LeBron James was younger when he was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. Flagg, the consensus 2024-2025 National College Player of the Year, cemented himself as one of the top players in college last season as a freshman. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals in 37 games for the Blue Devils, who lost in the men's basketball Final Four to the University of Houston in the final minutes. Flagg led Duke in all the five major statistical categories. Speaking to reporters on the eve of the draft, the 18-year-old phenom said it's a 'surreal' feeling to possibly be chosen No. 1. FLAGG CAPTURED!WELCOME TO DALLAS, COOPER! @Academy // #FlaggCaptured #MFFL 'It's incredible to be here, be in these moments. This is stuff I've dreamed about since I was a little kid, so I think being here is surreal,' Flagg said Tuesday. 'I don't think it's really set in yet or anything but I'm just trying to go through each moment and just enjoy it.' Flagg became the fourth freshman in NCAA history to win the Wooden Award, given to the nation's top player. The other three players were Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, who will be Flagg's teammate in Dallas, and Zion Williamson. In January, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said about his star, 'He's a savant with the game. He just really has an amazing understanding for what's required to win and how to elevate everyone around him.' Unlike most No. 1 overall picks, Flagg will be a part of an established and talented team, consisting of NBA champions Kyrie Irving, Davis and Klay Thompson. Dallas will look to reset its franchise with the Flagg selection after trading popular All-NBA guard Luka Dončić in February to the Los Angeles Lakers, sparking a huge amount of backlash from their fanbase. Tuesday, Flagg said he wouldn't feel any pressure in Dallas after the controversial Dončić trade. 'I'm just going to try to be myself all the time, and I'm going to push myself to be better and better every single day and make the most out of every day,' Flagg said. 'I'm not worried about living up to certain players' expectations or things like that. I'm just going to be myself and really just try to get better every single day that I can.' He added: 'I've heard it's an incredible fan base with incredible support, so I'll be excited to learn more about it and get down there.' Flagg is the fifth Blue Devil to go No. 1 overall in the last 30 years, joining Elton Brand (Chicago Bulls 1999), Irving (Cavaliers 2011), Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans 2019) and Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic 2022). Meanwhile in Flagg's home state of Maine, governor Janet Mills proclaimed June 25 as 'Cooper Flagg Day,' celebrating the Newport native's 'remarkable basketball achievement.' This is a developing story and will be updated.
