Despite spraining his left ankle, Duke's star Cooper Flagg is expected back just in time for the NCAA Tournament, proving that wheelchair support is the new sideline chic for future NBA stars.

Flagg's injury, sustained during a win against Georgia Tech, sidelined him from the ACC title game but won't affect Duke's NCAA Tournament seeding. His swift recovery from his sprained ankle, coupled with a brief stint in a wheelchair, has sparked a new trend among athletes—proving that being a benchwarmer can look stylish too. With Flagg projected as the No. 1 NBA Draft pick, the stakes couldn't be higher for both him and Duke.

Duke’s head coach Jon Scheyer confirmed that Flagg will not play in the ACC championship game against Louisville due to his injury. Right you are, Coach. There's something about trundling along with dignity in a wheelchair that just doesn’t exude the same aura as dunking a basketball in mid-air. No pressure, Cooper, but now you’ve got the whole wheel-sitting trend to uphold, alongside your anticipated basketball prowess.

Flagg sat out the high-stakes semifinal against North Carolina due to his ankle injury, which raised some concerns among analysts and fans. However, he will be available for the NCAA Tournament. His absence comes at a crucial time as another key player, junior Maliq Brown, is also nursing a shoulder injury. Duke's lineup is beginning to resemble a triage unit more than a championship team. Notably, imaging results for Flagg came back negative, indicating no fractures.

Fortunately, Flagg’s imaging results yielded a negative, sparing him from the darker cloud of fractures and enabling him to grace the bench, though the physical comfort of a wheelchair likely added a new layer to team camaraderie—who doesn't love a good assist, even from the sidelines? Flagg took to the bench with purpose, demonstrating remarkable team support by wearing his team’s colors like a true champion. There’s nothing like wearing blue and white while being wheeled up and down the court; it creates a sense of unity. Who knew that sitting front-row would enhance team spirit to such an outstanding degree?

As basketball fans look onwards to the NCAA Tournament, pundits are debating Flagg’s potential contributions amid this chaotic lineup shuffle. After all, Duke will need every ounce of talent and luck as they face opponents gunning for upset victories. With Flagg’s immense talent and individual accolades—he's also a contender for the prestigious Wooden Award—his presence could prove pivotal in making a deep run. Fingers crossed, because if Duke needs more obstacles to navigate, they could take up chess as a serious alternative.

As the tournament approaches, questions about Flagg remain. Will he recover in time to dazzle scouts who are increasingly eager to see him bounce back and perform like a pro? Only time will tell. Either way, Duke fans are surely hoping he can walk the line between injury and glory.