"Do not buy a Bugatti right away" - Cooper Flagg's mom sets a $180K limit on his first car despite his $62 million rookie deal
- Cooper Flagg, the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, was advised by his mother not to buy an expensive sports car right away, setting a spending limit of $180,000 for his first vehicle.
Before Cooper Flagg signed his NBA rookie contract with the Dallas Mavericks, the former Duke star already had NIL deals with New Balance and Fanatics worth a reported $28 million. With that kind of money coming in, Flagg can essentially buy whatever he wants.
However, when he and his mom, Kelly, were interviewed by "Chime" shortly before the 2025 NBA Draft, where he was picked first overall by the Mavs, Mrs. Flagg reminded her son of the value of money and flat-out told him not to buy an expensive sports car that many top athletes have in their car collections.
"Do not buy a Bugatti right away," she said when Flagg mentioned that he's excited to get his own vehicle.
Later, when mother and son were pitted in the "Money Match Up" portion of the interview, where they were asked to give a specific number to an item, Kelly wrote $180,000 on the maximum amount that she thinks Cooper should spend on a car. Meanwhile, Coop's answer was $200,000, which wasn't far from his mom's number.
Coop's first NBA contract is worth over $60 million
Like most NBA rookies past and present, Coop mentioned he will buy a new house and his own car with his first salary. Now most NBA stars buy either a large SUV or a fancy sports car, but Flagg said during the interview that he isn't buying a speedster.
"People might assume that I might buy a sports car," said Coop. "But I don't see myself doing that."
If he did, though, there's no question he could afford one, even Bugatti's latest car , the $4 million Tourbillon.
After the Mavs drafted Cooper, he immediately signed a four-year deal with his new team. Although the terms of the deal were not officially revealed, Sportract says that per the 2025-26 NBA salary scale, Flagg's deal is worth $62.7 million for four years with a guarantee of $28.3 million upon signing.
He is set to make $13.8 million during the 2026-26 season, and the amount will increase to $14.5 million, $15.2 million, and $19.1 million in the succeeding three years. The final two years are a team option.
Make sure you're not a bust
Aside from the cost of his first car, the mother and son were asked how much each of them is willing to pay for a Cooper sports card. Kelly said she wouldn't pay a dollar for a piece of cardboard, while Coop said he would spend $2.5 million for it as an investment. Momma Flagg told her son to ensure he isn't a bust first.
Now, suppose Cooper is what he is expected to be. In that case, it won't only be his sports cards that will be worth a fortune, as he could be in line to receive a massive projected $359 million contract in 2029 if he delivers on the court.
Maybe that's why Kelly said "not right away" to a Bugatti because if all goes well, there's no doubt that buying even two sports cards would be easy for the Mavs star, if that's what he wants. But that may be looking too far ahead.
For now, the Bugatti might have to wait as Mavs forward will have to "settle" for a $200K vehicle or the $180K one if he follows his mom strictly. Still, either amount isn't too shabby for a first car, as he can still buy sleek cars from luxury brands like Aston Martin, Maserati, Mercedes, and Porsche. Those options aren't really bad for a guy who won't turn 19 until December.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
