“They don’t hate each other. I hated Larry and every Celtic… now everybody’s shaking each other’s hand… there’s a reason why the number, viewership is going down.” Earlier this year, Magic Johnson blamed lack of rivalries for the decline in NBA’s ratings. Of course, more rivalries mean more storylines that keep fans invested and glued to their screens. There is a growing belief that NBA is gradually losing that charm.
So, everyone was ecstatic when two former rivals, Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe, were selected not too far apart in last month’s draft. There was hope that their high school beef would carry over to the pros, making for great television. But is there truly bad blood between them? Guess not, as the 76ers rookie spilled the beans on Paul George’s podcast, “It’s a friendly rivalry. Off the court, we’re close. Like we’re close, but on the court we’re competing. We both competitors.”
Well, the speculations of their beef began when a clip of VJ and Cooper trash talking during Montverde vs Long Island Lutheran went viral. “You not like that” said Edgecombe to this year’s first overall pick, and Flagg later responded by yelling, “Put his a—in jail” after a tough bucket. Two top prospects going at each other immediately caught everyone’s attention. However, VJ clarified in the interview that the interaction was blown out of proportion.
“The reason why he said that, people thought he said it because ‘Oh, he thinks I’m bad or something’ like nah, I stepped over him. He was on the floor. He got like the last shot of the third quarter. And walking to my bench, I see him on the floor and I just walked over him. That’s why.” VJ revealed. The Sixers rookie claims that the cameraman dragged it more than he needed to. He continued, “I understand, it’s for clicks. Got like a million views on it.”
Further clearing the air on the beef, VJ said, “We know at the end its all love between me and Coop. It was funny though cause we talk about it all the time. Its love man.” Turns out, media tried to reignite the beef when the two youngsters faced each other during March Madness. Their friendly banter at the free throw line was completely misconstrued into another heated trash-talking session and Edgecombe couldn’t believe it, “I’m like ‘Oh my gosh bro!’ But it’s for clicks. I ain’t worried about it.” So, as much as the narrative is pushing for them to be rivals, there is no bad blood between VJ and Flagg.
(Developing Story)
The post 76ers Rookie Clears Air on Cooper Flagg Beef After Offering Stern Advice to Mavs Star appeared first on EssentiallySports.
