Imago
Credit: X/Robert Littal BSO
Imago
Credit: X/Robert Littal BSO
Cooper Flagg has finally confirmed what Duke basketball fans had been speculating about for weeks. Rumors linking the Mavericks rookie and Duke women’s basketball standout Arianna Roberson first gained traction during Flagg’s ROTY celebration, when Roberson was spotted sitting courtside beside his parents as he edged out teammate Kon Knueppel for the honor. Since then, the pair kept a low profile while Flagg focused on his first NBA season. Now, the Duke stars are making their relationship public.
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Roberson, the sister of former Thunder forward Andre Roberson, shared several TikToks from the couple’s vacation in Turks and Caicos. The clips showed her and Flagg coordinating outfit transitions and enjoying the luxury getaway together, marking the clearest sign yet that the relationship rumors were true.
Flagg followed with a quieter confirmation of his own. The Mavericks star posted an Instagram story featuring a photo of the couple sharing a kiss, adding two black heart emojis to put any remaining speculation to rest officially.
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Their story is unclear. The pair haven’t openly spoken about how their relationship took off. Roberson and Cooper Flagg were both basketball stars for Duke during the 2024-25 campaign. Flagg had a historic season, winning Naismith Player of the Year honors while solidifying himself as the best prospect in the country. Roberson also arrived with great promise as a five-star recruit. Sadly, she suffered a knee injury that sidelined her for her freshman season.
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Apr 8, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of the jersey of Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) against the Phoenix Suns in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
She didn’t disappoint in her official rookie season with the Blue Devils. The 20-year-old center averaged 8 points and 5.7 rebounds in just 17.8 minutes. Roberson has also represented Team USA during the 2024 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup, where she helped the team to a gold medal finish.
It seems the pair decided to focus on their basketball commitments first, while still maintaining their relationship. Coming into the spotlight too early would create unnecessary distractions and media interruptions. Since they both jumped into new beginnings, the couple took their sweet time before proudly declaring their love for each other.
Cooper Flagg is excited for sophomore growth
Cooper Flagg’s rookie season was nothing short of sensational. He made history, becoming the first teenager to score 50 points in an NBA game. As the season progressed, the Mavericks’ rookie kept getting better. He figured things out, showing his basketball instincts and innate feel for the game. The star mantle walked up to Flagg, and not the other way around.
However, even with the Rookie of the Year trophy to show, the 19-year-old is preparing to take another leap during his sophomore season in the NBA.
“I’m going to work on a lot of different things. There is always room for improvement in every area of the game. I think there is a ton of growth that I can make offensively, off the dribble and making reads at a high level. I’m excited to just get in the gym, especially with some of the guys, and continue to learn and grow in a lot of different areas,” said Flagg.
As a raw prospect, Cooper Flagg is well ahead of most second-year players in the league. He entered as an elite defender, versatile enough to guard multiple positions. And he’s finding his spots on the court, becoming a consistent 20-point scorer. That’s likely going to see an uptick once Flagg works on his three-point shot and polishes his gifts even more in the gym.
For now, he’s getting much-deserved rest. The relaxation on vacation is to unwind from a tough season for the Mavericks. But once the soreness goes away, Flagg will attack training with the focus of turning Dallas into a winning franchise again.
Written by
Edited by
Tanay Sahai