NEW YORK 鈥 Who do you think the most famous Mainer of all time is? Until maybe a year ago, it was probably Stephen King, who has entertained and scared generations of readers with his novels, a vast majority of them set in the spooky corners of Maine that they don鈥檛 put in travel brochures.
Now, though, you can make a good case for Cooper Flagg.
鈥淚t means a lot to me to have the support of the whole state. A lot of people showed up today to support me, and a lot of draft parties back home,鈥 Flagg said in his first official NBA press conference, about an hour after he made Maine history. 鈥淚t feels amazing to know I inspire younger kids. I was in their shoes really not that long ago. To give back and give those kids those feelings and have the whole state behind me, it means a lot.鈥
Flagg, a Newport native, was the first pick Wednesday night in the NBA draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. NBA commissioner Adam Silver opened the draft at 8:05 p.m., putting the Dallas Mavericks on the clock. The Mavericks had five minutes to make the pick, and if they took more than five seconds, it was just to chuckle and thank the lottery gods for making things fall their way last month when the draft order was set.
At 8:08, it was announced on the scoreboard above the floor that the pick was in. At 8:11, Silver made the announcement every basketball fan in the world knew was coming. Flagg is a Dallas Maverick.
Mainers in attendance were excited. Sam Esancy of Presque Isle and his family made the long trip from northern Maine. His sons, Daxton and Ryker, and daughter, Halle, are all big Flagg fans. And this draft was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you can attend, Sam said, do it.
Isaiah Kozak, 17, of Oakland, attended with some friends and his father. They won tickets, and entered Barclays Center wearing capes adorned with Flagg鈥檚 image, 鈥淭he Maine Event鈥 written above Flagg鈥檚 head.
Koazk also wore a Boston Celtics cap, but admitted the Mavericks are now a second favorite team. His prediction for Flagg鈥檚 NBA success was optimistic and unequivocal.
鈥淚 think he鈥檚 going to do amazing,鈥 Kozak said. 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 going to dominate.鈥
Flagg said the night鈥檚 events were a blur. Even when you know what鈥檚 coming, those life-changing moments usually are.
Fans can make bold proclamations. Players, especially rookies, even first overall draft picks, are better off leaving things understated. Flagg did exactly that. He pointed toward his Hall of Fame-caliber teammates, NBA veterans, and said what they need to hear.
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited. I think I keep saying I鈥檓 excited to be a sponge. To go (to Dallas) and learn,鈥 Flagg said.
Silver says your name, and the Barclays Center cheers in unison. You hug your mother, father and brothers. You hug your college coach, Jon Scheyer. You walk on stage. You put on a Dallas Mavericks baseball cap. You hug Silver, and you pose. All the while, the world is watching.
You are the face of Maine. There鈥檚 no doubting that anymore.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 set in yet鈥 Just playing the moments back in my head. Standing up, hearing my name. It鈥檚 been like a blur, but I just feel really blessed just to be here.
Ryker Esancy was asked what he thinks of a kid from Maine being the No. 1 draft pick. Yes, Maine. Who would ever have thought that?
鈥淚t鈥檚 just crazy,鈥 Ryker said.
Isn鈥檛 it? And fun, too.
The face of Maine is an 18-year-old kid from Newport. Cooper Flagg is on the clock.