Sports

Cooper Flagg's Stardom Powers New Balance's Basketball Ambitions

Cooper Flagg dunks the ball at the Alamo dome in San Antonio, Texas. — Cooper Flagg dunks the ball at the Alamo dome in San Antonio, Texas.
Photographer: Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

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By Kim Bhasin

June 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM UTC

New Balance, a brand long known for running shoes, is planting a flag in basketball tonight.

That’s when 18-year-old Cooper Flagg is expected to be the top pick in the NBA Draft. The 6-foot-9 forward from Duke University represents a rare shot for a company besides Nike Inc. to claim the game’s next young star.