Cooper Flagg trades NBA spotlight for prime-time TV appearance with his family

Cooper Flagg trades NBA spotlight for prime-time TV appearance with his family originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Cooper Flagg conquered the NBA during a record-setting rookie season. Now, the Dallas Mavericks star will try to conquer the survey board. Flagg and several members of his family will appear on “Celebrity Family Feud” on Thursday night, giving basketball fans an opportunity to see the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year in a much different competitive setting.

Team Flagg will face a collection of Barstool Sports personalities led by founder Dave Portnoy. The episode airs at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and will also be available to stream on Hulu. The show’s official social media account offered fans an early look at Flagg’s enthusiasm ahead of the matchup.

“‘LET’S GO!!’ is totally the right energy,” Celebrity Family Feud wrote on X, encouraging viewers to watch Team Flagg and Team Barstool chase the top answers.

Who is joining Cooper Flagg on “Celebrity Family Feud”?

Flagg will be joined by members of the family who helped him navigate his rapid rise from Newport, Maine, to Duke and eventually the NBA. The Flagg contingent includes his twin brother, Ace, older brother, Hunter, parents Kelly and Ralph and his grandfather. They will compete on behalf of Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, which provides support and accommodations for families whose children are receiving medical care.

It is a fitting charitable connection for the face of the Mavericks. Dallas selected Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and he quickly established himself as one of the league’s brightest young stars. Flagg’s debut season ended with him being named the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year. His immediate success also made him one of the most recognizable young athletes in basketball, creating opportunities that extend well beyond the court.

Thursday’s episode will provide a more relaxed look at Flagg, although his competitive instincts are unlikely to disappear simply because he is standing behind a podium instead of defending an NBA opponent.

Team Flagg faces Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports

Team Barstool will feature Portnoy, Kirk Minihane, Ryan Whitney, Jersey Jerry and Rico Bosco. The group will compete for LifeLine Animal Project, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that works to improve animal welfare and reduce shelter euthanasia.

The contrast between the two teams should give host Steve Harvey plenty of material. Flagg is generally known for his reserved public personality, while the Barstool lineup rarely struggles to generate noise or controversy. Harvey’s unpredictable reactions have become a defining feature of “Family Feud,” and Thursday’s matchup will place one of basketball’s fastest-rising stars directly in the middle of the show’s humor.

Flagg has spent most of the past year answering questions about basketball expectations, Dallas’ future and his historic rookie campaign. This time, he will need to figure out how 100 survey respondents answered questions that could be about almost anything. For Mavericks fans, the episode offers a chance to see more of the family behind the franchise cornerstone. It also represents another sign of just how quickly Flagg’s profile has grown since entering the NBA.

MORE: Stephen Curry makes NBA history with unprecedented Hall of Fame honor

How to watch Cooper Flagg on “Celebrity Family Feud”

The Team Flagg vs. Team Barstool episode of “Celebrity Family Feud” airs Thursday, July 23, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Viewers can also watch through a live-TV streaming service carrying ABC. The episode will be available afterward on Hulu.

Flagg has already shown that he can deliver under pressure in packed NBA arenas. Thursday night will reveal whether he and his family can find the top answers when Harvey turns toward the board.

More NBA news: