A major individual award is one way to recognize an NBA player’s impact on the league. Another is a nickname. Cooper Flagg recently won the Rookie of the Year Award, and now it is time to give him the most appropriate moniker.
He already has one from college, but it does not seem to translate well to the pro ranks. His teammate Naji Marshall turned heads a few months ago when he came up with one of the best puns about his rookie’s surname.
“He’s a dog on both ends of the floor, and every game somebody guards him with their best defender, and he just goes out and proves that he’s a No. 1 pick… Pledge allegiance to the Flagg, man,” Marshall said back in December.
That is not exactly a nickname, but more of a description of the Mavericks’ commitment to their future franchise player.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
So what should Flagg’s nickname be? One reporter, during the press conference for his Rookie of the Year win, suggested one—but it has fans divided. The Duke Blue Devils standout himself liked it. He thinks “Cooper Swag” is cool.
“I’ve never heard that, but I think it’s cool,” he said while laughing.
“That’s swaggy FR,” one commenter wrote.
“that’s tuff lowkey,” said another.
“Love the nickname, Cooper Swagg has a great ring to it!”
Others thought it does not have enough impact and would rather keep the nickname Flagg earned in college and high school. This nickname is in reference to his hometown and his pull whenever he is on the court.
“It’s The Maine Event, we are NOT calling him “CoOpEr SwAg”,” a user said in objection.
“No he’s the maine event,” said another.
Others wants Flagg to explore other nickname.
“Bruh it’s Captain Coop.”
“Duke of Dallas > Cooper swagg.”
Related: Cooper Flagg News Emerges After Major NBA Honor