Top pick Cooper Flagg officially introduced by the Wizards! Explains why he chose jersey number 4, and how Spider-Man sparked his love for basketball

On June 26, Beijing time, the Wizards held a press conference for No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg. He announced he would wear No. 4 and explained the reason.

Before basketball became the dominant part of Flagg's life, he was no different from other children — fascinated by fictional superheroes from a young age. When he was about five, his father bought him a Spider-Man basketball hoop that could be hung on the back of a door.

"I've been a huge Spider-Man fan since I was a kid. I would take a small ball and practice shooting on my bed. Later I joined a YMCA league ... and eventually fell completely in love with basketball," Flagg said. "You could say it was Spider-Man that got me into the sport." The Wizards are truly grateful that Flagg chose basketball and is fully dedicated to it.

In the NBA Draft, the Wizards selected the 6'10" BYU star with the No. 1 pick. Just two days later, the team held his introductory press conference at a hotel along the Potomac River, only 1.5 miles from the Wizards' home arena.

"Nothing comes easy, and I want to be a key piece in the team's rebuilding plan," he said. "Obviously, Wizards fans have been waiting too long." The Wizards last had the No. 1 pick in 2010, when they selected John Wall. Flagg now joins a franchise that hasn't won 50 games in a single season since 1979; over the last three seasons combined, the team has only managed 50 wins.

At the press conference, the mystery of his jersey number was finally settled. Flagg wore No. 3 in college, but the Wizards' No. 3 belongs to Trae Young, so he switched to No. 4. "I used to wear 3, and I'm the No. 1 pick this year — that's 1. Add the two numbers together, and you get 4." Flagg's No. 4 jersey is already available at the team store.

In his college season, Flagg averaged 25.5 points per game. The last time a freshman led the nation in scoring was his new teammate Trae Young, who achieved that feat at Oklahoma during the 2017-2018 season.

Washington fans will soon see Flagg's skills on the court, but this introductory event gave everyone a glimpse of the young man carrying so many hopes. Flagg is approachable, confident, and eager to begin his professional career. This was already evident during the draft combine.

"The whole process felt like a job interview. My father told me: 'This is your first interview,'" he recalled. "So we dressed up sharp. For every interview I wore a suit, and I dressed formally for media sessions too. I always treated the draft as a real job."

That attitude left a strong impression on Wizards general manager Will Dawkins.

"From the first meeting, he stood out — you could sense a maturity beyond his years," Dawkins said. "We had a Q&A session. Many prospects only ask surface-level, routine questions, but AJ was different. He's curious, mentally mature, and asked very thoughtful questions."

Flagg said he will complete his degree through online courses and earn his college diploma. Off the court, he also has ambitious philanthropic plans. The 19-year-old has already founded a foundation to support young people.

"My mother is from Jamaica, and my father is from Congo. In the initial phase, we will sponsor 20 children from both countries to attend college," he said. "Local African institutions, Jamaican schools, or American universities — all are options. Once the program is established, we will expand globally to help young people around the world."