NEW YORK – The 2025 NBA Draft was regarded as having one of the most talented classes in recent memory. A draft record nine college freshmen were drafted in a row to start the night. At the top of the star-studded class stood Cooper Flagg, a 6’9 Swiss-army knife forward out of Duke University.
Flagg drew comparisons to some of the greatest two-way forces of all time: Kawhi Leonard, Andrei Kirilenko, and even Scottie Pippen, making for extremely lofty expectations for an 18 year old. Rarely do teenagers live up to the “generational” label, begging the question: Will Cooper Flagg live up to the hype? Or will the glaring flaws in his game shine too bright?
During his lone college season at Duke, Flagg was awarded both the Wooden Award and the National Player of the Year. With averages of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, the freshman led Duke to a 19-1 record in the ACC and a first seed in March Madness. Defense was his calling card going into the draft, projecting to be a top defender in the sport early in his career. His blend of length, IQ, and athleticism make for a deadly off-ball defender and a tough matchup for any position. NBA’s official draft report on Flagg raves about his readiness on the defensive end. For instance, “[Flagg] will be asked to guard multiple positions and has all the projections to be able to handle this responsibility.” Flagg also demonstrated great playmaking, making scouts believe he could serve as a secondary ball handler or even a point guard. His previously mentioned 4.2 assists a night are very appealing and show that he has the potential to translate as a jumbo guard in the NBA. This skill drew the comparison to Scottie Pippen, who served as a secondary ball handler to Michael Jordan during the Bulls dynasty. If Flagg continues to build on this foundation of skills, he will hit his Hall of Fame ceiling.
Despite this, Flagg is far from a surefire superstar in the big leagues. The main knock against his game is his outside shooting. Despite the percentage saying otherwise, Flagg’s unorthodox form is discouraging to many scouts, with many saying it won’t translate to the NBA, with its further three-point line and faster pace of play. Yahoo’s Draft Report on Flagg states, “This season at Duke was Flagg’s first draining 3s at a high level. Is this sustainable?” Though his percentage was encouraging, consistency remains a concern. Another big knock to his game is his ball handling. Despite having promising vision, Flagg has a loose handle and tends to turn the ball over frequently, averaging over two per game in college. In Duke’s February 8th game against Clemson, Flagg lost the ball with seconds left and lost Duke the game and their 16 game winning streak. This was a stain on his otherwise fantastic freshman year.
After reclassifying, Cooper Flagg is just 18 years old going into his rookie year. With time to develop and cover his deficiencies, the “Maine Event” already has the physical tools, IQ, and intangibles to become a perennial all-star in the NBA, and pan out as one of the best number one picks in the modern era.
