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Cooper Flagg Had Excited Five-Word Reaction to Suns Drafting Ex-Teammate Khaman Maluach

'That's the one I needed.'

Brigid Kennedy

Cooper Flagg reacts to Khaman Maluach's getting drafted on June 25, 2025.
Cooper Flagg reacts to Khaman Maluach's getting drafted on June 25, 2025. / NBA / X / Screensho
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Just as he was happy to see former roommate Kon Knueppel get selected with the No. 4 pick of Wednesday's NBA Draft, newly minted Dallas Maverick Cooper Flagg was incredibly pumped to see another ex-teammate, Khaman Maluach, land with the Phoenix Suns at No. 10.

Flagg was occupied with media when Maluach's selection was announced. As he realized what had happened, a massive grin spread across his face.

"That's the one I needed," he told the room. "I love that. I love that for him."

Watch that excited reaction below:

Although Maluach was announced as the Houston Rockets' selection, he'll be redirected to the Suns thanks to Sunday's blockbuster Kevin Durant deal. As part of that trade, Phoenix sent KD to the Rockets, while Houston forked over the No. 10 pick (among other assets).

"I'm here representing the whole continent [of Africa]," a visibly emotional Maluach told ESPN's Monica McNutt after the selection. "I had the whole continent on my back. Giving hope to young kids, inspiring young kids, and the next generation of African basketball."

In addition to the remaining draft picks, the South Sudan-born, Uganda-raised Maluach will be joined in Phoenix by center Mark Williams, whom the team received in a draft-night trade with the Charlotte Hornets.

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Brigid Kennedy
BRIGID KENNEDY

Brigid Kennedy is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, she covered political news, sporting news and culture at TheWeek.com before moving to Livingetc, an interior design magazine. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, dual majoring in television, radio and film (from the Newhouse School of Public Communications) and marketing managment (from the Whitman School of Management). Offline, she enjoys going to the movies, reading and watching the Steelers.

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