Adam Flagler

Adam Flagler's Biography

Adam Michael Flagler, born December 1, 1999, has proven himself to be a highly accomplished athlete, carving a successful career as a professional basketball player. He plays for the prestigious Oklahoma City Thunder team, a prominent name in the National Basketball Association (NBA), under a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League.

Raised in a sports-heavy environment, Flagler’s childhood consisted of playing various sports including baseball, football, and most importantly, basketball. A native of Georgia, Flagler began his love affair with basketball at Duluth High School in Duluth, Georgia, where he made an indelible mark. He graduated as the school’s leading scorer with 1,300 points and the record holder for the most three-pointers, a remarkable 227 to his name. Flagler was also recognized as a two-time all-county selection, evidence of his early prowess on the court.

Despite his high school success, Flagler only received a single scholarship offer from an NCAA Division I program, Presbyterian. Accepting the offer, the determined athlete embarked on his collegiate basketball journey. He made considerable waves on November 19, 2018, when he scored an astonishing career-high of 29 points, with seven three-pointers, in a game against UCLA.

Flagler’s freshman year at Presbyterian saw him average an impressive 15.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. His performance was the best in program history for a freshman, which earned him the Big South Freshman of the Year award and an unprecedented five-time Big South Freshman of the Week – a notable conference record.

When head coach Dustin Kerns departed, Flagler transferred to Baylor University, adhering to the rules that required him to sit out for a year. During this hiatus, he honed his skills by training against respected players such as Jared Butler, Davion Mitchell and MaCio Teague.

Emerging from this training year, Flagler adopted the critical sixth man role for Baylor in his sophomore year. His contributions helped the team win the first National Championship in school history and finish the season with an impressive 28–2 record. He had an average of 9.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. However, he faced a setback due to a knee injury in February 2022.

Recognized for his formidable skills, Flagler was named to the Second Team All-Big 12. Despite the knee injury, he averaged 13.8 points and 3.0 assists per game. Following this, he announced his decision to declare for the 2022 NBA draft, though he later returned to Baylor.

In his senior year, Flagler’s exceptional contributions were acknowledged when he was named to the First Team All-Big 12. After the end of the 2023 season, he entered the NBA draft again. He signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 19, 2023, but was waived the next day. Undeterred, Flagler then became part of the Oklahoma City Blue roster by the end of the same month.

Flagler continued to make strides, signing a two-way contract with the Thunder on February 12, 2024. Flagler’s journey, from a small-town Georgia school to the elite NBA, demonstrates his deep love for the sport and unwavering determination to succeed.

His family, too, showcases an impressive lineage of athletes. His older brother DuVaughn played college football as a wide receiver at Gardner–Webb University and presently holds a respectable position as an elementary school principal. Another older brother, Alex, showcased his athletic talents on the basketball court – playing college basketball at Coker College and Cumberland University.