It is a big deal when an NBA player, an All-Star level at that, gets one-upped by an amateur.

Bradley Beal of the Phoenix Suns became a trending topic in the NBA world yesterday after reports of him getting into an intense battle with 16-year-old prospect Cooper Flagg circulated.

Former NBA player Brian Scalabrini was the first to float such a report which he said took place at Jayson Tatum's camp.

"The rumor is that Brad Beal and him were squaring off 1-on-1 and Brad Beal was taking it lightly," Scalabrini said.

"It's a high school kid. Then Cooper started giving it to him. And I guess the rumor is, Cooper started talking trash and Bradley Beal got mad. Really mad."

Is there any truth to it?

Beal did not need to face reporters to clarify things. All he needed was one word and four emojis.

"Huh?" - he wrote in an Instagram post about the alleged one-on-one battle by League Alerts.

(Photo : Bradley Beal/League Alerts)

Cap emoji in the internet language means someone is "lying."

Does the lie have grounds?

The internet quickly absorbed the fake news from Scalabrini before Beal reacted.

I can't blame them, though, as Flagg is not an ordinary high schooler. He stands at 6'8 and plays very physically.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Lebron James even noticed the youngster who is expected to join the 2025 NBA draft.

He is so good compared to his fellow high schoolers that he earned a spot on the NBA's Youtube channel, just like this year's No. 1 draft pick Victor Wembanyama.