When the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers faced off in early season NBA action this week, two of the most prominent basketball players in Maine history found themselves on opposing sides of the contest.
And former University of Maine Black Bear Rick Carlisle, now the Pacers head coach, was impressed with what he saw from Newport native Cooper Flagg.
“He’s a great young player with so much upside ahead of him,” Carlisle told the Bangor Daily News on Friday.
Cooper Flagg’s ties to the state of Maine have been front and center throughout the inception of his unprecedented rookie season. The Newport native was the first Maine player ever to be taken first overall in the NBA draft, and his newly released New Balance sneakers are an homage to the Mavericks forward’s home state.
What may be less obvious is Carlisle’s connection to Maine. He has seen tremendous success in the NBA, both as a player and a coach. He won an NBA championship playing for the Boston Celtics in 1986 and coached the Mavericks to a title in 2011. Before that, a formative two years playing at the University of Maine helped launch his storied ascent.
So not only does Carlisle have a strong connection with Flagg’s new team in Dallas, but he’s also one of the best basketball players to ever come through the state of Maine. And Carlisle is looking forward to seeing what the 18-year-old Flagg brings to the NBA.
“It’s such an exciting thought, you know, if you’re him, if you’re his family, if you’re the Mavericks organization,” Carlisle said about Flagg. “He’s going to be a future face of the league, for sure.”
The longtime NBA coach is “just really impressed with his game, his personality, his professional disposition.”
Carlisle got his first look at Flagg in person when his Pacers lost to the Mavericks 107-105 on Wednesday night.
“I expected to be impressed,” Carlisle said.
And he was.
“His level of strength and physicality for an 18-year-old player is really exceptional,” Carlisle said about Flagg. “I just think his overall vibe as a young talent is unique. He’s so focused.”
Flagg notched a double-double on Wednesday night, scoring 15 points and bringing down 10 rebounds.
“He has such a professional approach,” Carlisle added. “And it’s obvious he’s a great teammate.”
That strength as a teammate has helped Flagg at every level so far, with his Maine coaches going back as far as elementary school highlighting his ability to make those around him better. It’s one of the many reasons that Flagg has already risen higher and faster than any other basketball player born and raised here in the Pine Tree State.
“It’s very special,” Carlisle said about this unprecedented moment for Maine. “No one needs me to validate that reality.”
Carlisle’s connection with Maine started with former Black Bear men’s basketball coach Skip Chappelle, one of the only other Mainers to be selected in the NBA draft.
“Skip was the only Division I coach to believe in my abilities,” Carlisle told the BDN in 2023. “He was one the best coaches I’ve ever had, and I’m very grateful for everything he did for me.”
Carlisle played at UMaine for two seasons before transferring to the University of Virginia (with Chappelle’s blessing). He was later drafted by the Celtics.
Carlisle isn’t sure when he’ll be able to make it back to Maine next, which makes sense given that he’s currently busy coaching the returning Eastern Conference champion Pacers.
“I’d love to get back there. It’s been a while,” he said about returning to Maine at some point. “But I’d love to get back and spend time with Skip and some other friends I have up there.”
He also still keeps tabs on the Black Bears program, which is riding a wave of momentum that includes the addition of Flagg’s twin brother, Ace Flagg, who is starting his freshman season at UMaine.
“I follow the program and I’m hoping they have a great year,” Carlisle said about the Black Bears.
