Cooper Flagg Says Meeting 'GOAT' Michael Jordan at Ryder Cup Was 'A Dream Come True'

Cooper Flagg went to Duke and Michael Jordan went to North Carolina, but admiration for the greatest of all time extends beyond collegiate rivalries.

"That's my GOAT. That's someone I've always seen as the GOAT in my household," Flagg told reporters Monday when discussing meeting His Airness at the Ryder Cup. "I think it was a dream come true, but it was just really cool that he was able to take the time."

Flagg was born in 2006, which was well after Jordan's final NBA season in 2002-03. 

But the Dallas Mavericks rookie has undoubtedly seen countless highlights and perhaps even watched the Last Dance documentary to learn more about the six-time champion, six-time NBA Finals MVP, five-time MVP and 10-time scoring champion who remains something of a mythical overarching presence even in today's NBA.

While perhaps nobody will ever carve out a resume quite like Jordan's, Flagg will begin his own journey toward a potential Hall of Fame career after the Mavericks selected him with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NBA draft.

He played just one season at Duke but cemented his status as the clear-cut top prospect in his class as the Associated Press Player of the Year, Wooden Award winner, Naismith Award winner and ACC Player of the Year while leading the Blue Devils to an ACC regular-season title, ACC conference tournament title and Final Four appearance.

Now he will have the opportunity to play alongside Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving (when healthy) for a Mavericks team with playoff aspirations in the daunting Western Conference.

And if he lives up to the sky-high expectations in place for his career, perhaps he will be the one striking awe in future generations when they meet him at golf tournaments down the line.