Cooper Flagg is trending as top-of-the-line NBA Draft prospects in fashionable historical past

The NBA had a premonition Cooper Flagg was sure for future superstardom lengthy earlier than he placed on a Duke jersey. It was the NBA’s curiosity that satisfied Flagg to reclassify, primarily skipping his senior yr of highschool to enroll in school at simply 17 years previous. It was on the NBA’s behest that he arrived at USA Basketball coaching camp this previous summer season, the place he famously out-played a number of the greatest gamers on the planet in scrimmages forward of the Paris Olympics.

Flagg was preordained because the No. 1 choose within the 2025 NBA Draft earlier than he ever stepped onto campus, however that was simply the tip of the hype. All he needed to do to reside as much as his overwhelming expectations was set up himself as top-of-the-line gamers within the nation and drive staff success regardless of being one of many youngest gamers within the sport. It must be a virtually unimaginable needle to string for anybody his age, however because the calendar has turned to 2025, Flagg has left little doubt he can pull it off.

Duke is No. 3 within the new AP Ballot due to a 10-game profitable streak powered by their famous person freshman. Flagg’s final recreation was greatest but: a brand new ACC freshman file 42 factors in a win over Notre Dame highlighted by one other ridiculous poster slam, extra scorching taking pictures from three-point vary, and an amazing passing show that noticed him tie his season-high in assists.

Flagg regarded like he belonged from his first recreation at Duke, although he wasn’t at all times dwelling as much as his “generational” tag. It seems like that’s modified since he turned on 18 years previous on Dec. 21. Listed below are Flagg’s numbers earlier than and after his birthday:

It isn’t even honest to say 18 is a “regular” age for a freshman, as a result of the NBA Draft has seen loads of one-and-dones older than that in recent times. Flagg is 17 months youthful than Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe, a fellow lottery choice in June’s draft after his freshman yr, for instance.

Nothing signifies future stardom higher overwhelming manufacturing at a younger age towards good competitors. Flagg is the method of pulling that off in addition to any prospect to hit school basketball over the past 20 years. Field rating plus/minus is a metric that estimates a participant’s contribution when on the ground. Since 2008, 21 freshmen have put up a BPM over 10 in a single-season. Flagg’s present mark of 14.3 ranks because the fifth highest of that group. He’s taking part in his freshman yr because the youngest participant on this record by a large margin.

Solely Auburn senior Johni Broome and Houston junior Emanuel Sharp are sporting a better BPM than Flagg this yr. Flagg can also be third within the nation in win shares, and main the nation in defensive win shares, per sports-reference. He’s not simply good for a freshman: he ought to legitimately be runner up for Nationwide Participant of the 12 months behind Broome. With Broome’s latest ankle harm, he may simply win it outright, one thing solely Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis, and Kevin Durant have completed as freshmen.

Flagg is exclusive amongst tremendous prospects in that he’s not precisely a takeover scorer — or a minimum of not but. As a substitute, Flagg is an elite defensive prospect who additionally occurs to be a a extremely good offensive participant with a ton of versatility.

Duke’s protection is No. 2 within the nation proper now, permitting solely 87.8 factors per 100 possessions. Flagg is the kind of chess piece that may make any protection elite. At 6’9 with a 7-foot wingspan, the freshman can oscillate between wing stopper, off-ball roamer, rim protector, and pick-and-roll detonator. He has an amazing mixture of size, athleticism, smarts, and motor, and all of it comes collectively to routinely make game-changing performs protection.

Flagg’s versatility and dominance defensively unlocks so many potential team-building avenues. Bought a middle who’s extremely expert offensively however just a little mushy as a rim protector? Flagg is the right 4 to place them to them. Do your twos and threes wrestle to comprise the ball on the level of assault? Flagg can chip in there, too. Whereas smaller, tremendous speedy ball handlers can nonetheless beat him off the bounce at occasions, Flagg has unreal restoration instruments to erase a shot even when somebody will get separation from him.

Offensively, Flagg remains to be solely common as a shooter and ball handler, however nonetheless contributes in so many different areas. Duke has had Flagg creating usually with the ball in his arms, which has led to some tough moments however must be glorious for his long-term development. Total, Flagg has carried out very properly in that function: he has a sky-high 30.9 p.c utilization fee to go together with above-average scoring effectivity with 58.3 p.c true taking pictures, and a powerful 25.5 p.c help fee.

Flagg’s effectivity numbers would look quite a bit higher in additional of a play-finishing function, the place his size, athleticism, and motor assist him win constantly. Together with his creation abilities bettering seemingly each week, Flagg has main versatility on offense, too. He’s going to be an amazing finisher along with his instruments, and creation enchancment may finally take him to the subsequent stratosphere.

Flagg could solely be a 34.5 p.c three-point shooter proper now, however he has the steadiness and mechanics of somebody who will shoot it a lot better than that down the road.

As a scorer, Flagg is simply too large and too athletic for many particular person defenders. He’s a load to take care of when he will get downhill, and he’s explosive sufficient to place himself close to the basket as quickly as he creates a bonus.

The truth that Flagg additionally has his eyes up when he’s driving is perhaps probably the most interesting a part of long-term potential. The dream of Flagg as a jumbo playmaker at all times felt a north star for his growth, however the reality is that he’s nearer to being that proper now than many anticipated. Simply have a look at this lob to teammate (and fellow future lottery choose) Khaman Maluach.

I’ve been fortunate sufficient to cowl the NBA Draft at SB Nation since 2013 (be happy to return and browse my previous mix reviews on Rudy Gobert, Zach LaVine, and Dennis Schroder). The one prospect I might definitively put over Flagg throughout that point is Victor Wembanyama, who I used to be casually giving Kareem comps to a yr out from his draft day. I’d in all probability give Luka Doncic an edge over Flagg, too. Prospect Zion Williamson deserves to be on this tier too, even when he hasn’t lived as much as the hype as his physique has damaged down and he’s struggled along with his conditioning.

Flagg deserves to be in the identical breath as all these studs, and forward of tremendous prospects like Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Paolo Banchero, and Chet Holmgren. The numbers converse for themselves: Cooper Flagg is solely very, superb already.

For pretty much as good as Dylan Harper has been at Rutgers, Flagg deserves to take a seat in a tier of his personal within the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s the kind of prospect who is completely value tanking for, as a result of whoever will get him is buying a Queen-like chess piece able to shifting everywhere in the board.

It’s arduous to reside as much as expectations whenever you’re as hyped as Flagg was, however proper now, he’s doing it. Sit again and luxuriate in seeing a expertise like this on the school degree, as a result of prospects like Flagg don’t come alongside usually.