Feb. 16, 2026, 3:29 p.m. ET
Former President Barack Obama praised several young NBA players during the All-Star Weekend.Obama specifically mentioned Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, noting his poise at a young age.Obama made these comments while discussing the high level of performance from today’s young athletes.
Cooper Flagg has earned the respect and fandom of many people worldwide due to his award-winning season at Duke and the first part of his rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks.
He might have just found his best yet: Barack Obama.
The former President of the United States was in Los Angeles for the NBA All-Star Weekend, including sitting courtside during Sunday’s games, once catching a loose ball that went out of bounds. While being interviewed by reporters, Obama gave reasons the NBA should reduce the regular-season from 82 to 72 games and noted that Flagg, who was supposed to play in the Rising Stars game, was out due to an injury.
Still, Obama has been impressed by what the former Duke star has accomplished at such a young age.
“You look at these younger kids who are coming in, they have so much poise and experience, somebody like Cooper Flagg,” Obama said. “He’s a baby. You can tell the guy’s barely shaven. And he’s out there doing what he’s doing.”
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Another former Duke star, Kon Knueppel, also earned praise.
“[Kon] Knueppel? Unbelievable,” Obama said. “[VJ] Edgecombe. So you’ve got these young folks who are now performing at levels that I think we’ve never seen before.”