DURHAM, N.C. — Cooper Flagg was clearly upset with himself after getting into foul trouble early in the second half but quickly turned that frustration into an electrifying play. Following his third foul, he was still able to showcase his skills by intercepting an entry pass, setting off a thrilling fast break.
Flagg, the 6-foot-9 standout for the Duke Blue Devils, made a spectacular one-handed dunk over Pittsburgh’s 7-footer Guillermo Diaz Graham during the second half of their dominant 76-47 victory on Tuesday night. His coast-to-coast drive culminated in a moment that lifted Cameron Indoor Stadium, reinforcing the excitement surrounding a player who many believe could be the top pick in the upcoming NBA draft.
“Coop does special stuff all the time, we’ve come to expect it,” remarked teammate Sion James. “But seeing that, he showed us he can still surprise us.” Flagg finished the game with impressive stats: 19 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block over nearly 33 minutes, as Duke cruised to a win while maintaining their perfect record in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
However, it was one particular moment—just four seconds long—that stood out above the rest. Flagg’s athleticism and aggression were on full display when he grabbed the ball after his defensive play and took off down the court.
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer compared the dunk to one made by former star Zion Williamson, noting the crowd’s electric reaction. “It reminded me of a Zion kind of play,” said Scheyer, reflecting on how such moments can rally the entire arena. “We’ve had a few guys through the years who can spark the energy like that, and tonight was one of those instances.”
The culmination of Flagg’s play began at the 17:43 mark, when he attempted to intercept an inbounds pass. Instead of subbing him out, Scheyer trusted him to stay on the floor. Flagg seized the opportunity by reading the play correctly, deflecting the ball intended for Cameron Corhen, then dashing past Jaland Lowe into the open court.
“I knew he was going to try to dunk it,” said James. “But once I saw (Diaz Graham) step up, I thought, ‘No way he’s going to risk that’—because that’s what any sane person would do.” But Flagg had other ideas as he launched himself towards the rim from the left side of the paint, reaching for the sky just as Diaz Graham attempted a last-minute contest.
“In that moment, everything felt like a flash,” Flagg recalled, snapping his fingers to emphasize the speed of the play. He executed the dunk with power, drawing a foul while ensuring to land squarely facing Diaz Graham. The excitement was palpable as the crowd erupted, and his teammates shared in the moment with a celebratory chest bump and sheer disbelief evident on their faces.
The jubilation didn’t end after the buzzer sounded; Duke players congregated around Tyrese Proctor’s cellphone in the locker room to watch a replay of the dunk before addressing reporters. Proctor described Flagg’s effort succinctly: “That’s the best in-game dunk I’ve ever seen.”
Continuing his outstanding performance, Flagg showcased his dexterity again on the ensuing possession with another impressive two-handed dunk. He finished the game strong, scoring 14 points in the second half and ending the night without picking up a fourth foul, showcasing his ability to impact the game positively.
With a clear path for growth ahead, Flagg, who just celebrated his 18th birthday a few weeks ago, has much to contribute. “He doesn’t just hunt for numbers,” Scheyer stated. “He naturally puts up numbers because he plays the game the right way. When we step on the court, I feel confident that we have the best player in the country, and that’s significant.”
