"That’s why I married your dad" — Cooper Flagg’s mom Kelly Flagg makes hilarious admission about her marriage during candid chat with her son

As the spotlight shined on Cooper Flagg during the 2025 NBA Draft, his mother, Kelly Flagg, casually stole a bit of that limelight with a witty remark that had fans across social media in stitches. Moments after her son was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks, a video was posted by Chime. It was a part of a promotional partnership captured with a light-hearted exchange between Cooper and his mom that quickly went viral. Jokingly, Kelly explained that she married her husband because she wanted her kids to be tall. The Flagg family has long been basketball royalty in their hometown, but on Wednesday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, their bond became a national story. Following Cooper’s historic selection, Chime released a behind-the-scenes video interview with the mother-son duo. In the clip, Kelly jokingly explained her marriage in front of Cooper with a line that instantly lit up social media:“That's why I married your dad. He's tall, and I thought maybe I could get some tall basketball babies.”Then, with a proud smile, she added, “So I guess it was a success.”At 6-foot-9, Ralph Flagg certainly passed on the genes. Cooper, now listed at 6-foot-8, proved more than worthy of that basketball blueprint, dominating at Duke and earning the National Player of the Year honor in his lone season. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks on 48.1% shooting. His stats made him the consensus top pick and a foundational piece for the Mavericks.But Cooper’s path wasn’t built on talent alone. The Flagg household was steeped in competition and encouragement. In a pre-draft feature with ESPN, the 18-year-old forward recalled intense one-on-one games with his mom growing up.“We used to play one-on-one all the time in the driveway …. She used to beat me all the time,” he admitted.Kelly, who scored over 1,000 points during her college career at the University of Maine and helped the team secure its first NCAA tournament win in 1999, had high hopes for her son, not just for his skill, but for his passion.“I just hoped that he loved the game as much as we all have,” she told ESPN after the draft. “We’re just thrilled he did love it and got to this moment, it’s incredible.”Also Read: Rashida Nicole confirms pregnancy with LiAngelo Ball sharing her honest feelings about becoming a motherEven before Cooper walked across the stage to shake Commissioner Adam Silver’s hand, his parents sent a heartfelt message from the green room. Ralph urged him to “keep grinding,” while Kelly encouraged him to “stay true to yourself and continue to make it about basketball.”