Flagg preseason debut: looking as good as advertised at 18 years old

[Johnny Firpo]

Why is panic (sincere or not) any more outlandish than proclaiming hes the second coming?

Stop the whataboutism. For starters, because his floor is that he is an all-star. There is no chance he is a bust, unless he has an injury ridden career. Anyone who understands basketball, has to know that within at least a range, he is one of the most surefire picks ever. And that range starts with him being an all-star, and and a really good two-way player, but a "mere" 18-20 point scorer on offense, so not a true first option. His ceiling, well, that we cannot really determine that yet, I would certainly agree with that statement, if that's what you are saying.

This is not whataboutism. This goes back to a point I made several days ago when this thread was created. Based on 14 minutes of preseason basketball, people were posting comparisons to LeBron, Luka, Dirk, Kawhi, and KG. I pointed out how insanely silly that is. Let the kid play some meaningful basketball and SHOW people who he is and how great he can be.

So, in my opinion you cant have your cake and eat it too. If you're gonna have a thread where multiple people call him a mega-superstar in the making before he's played a single regular season basketball game, how can you ridicule someone for saying there's reasons to be concerned before he's played a single regular season basketball game.

Of course it's whataboutism, if that's like 5% of people. Even if it's 25% of people here, it would still be whataboutism, but it's nowhere near that high. I never understood why some poster feel the need to call out a ridiculous opinion and make it look like a lot of people agree with that notion.

[ryguy613]

Stop the whataboutism. For starters, because his floor is that he is an all-star. There is no chance he is a bust, unless he has an injury ridden career. Anyone who understands basketball, has to know that within at least a range, he is one of the most surefire picks ever. And that range starts with him being an all-star, and and a really good two-way player, but a "mere" 18-20 point scorer on offense, so not a true first option. His ceiling, well, that we cannot really determine that yet, I would certainly agree with that statement, if that's what you are saying.

This is not whataboutism. This goes back to a point I made several days ago when this thread was created. Based on 14 minutes of preseason basketball, people were posting comparisons to LeBron, Luka, Dirk, Kawhi, and KG. I pointed out how insanely silly that is. Let the kid play some meaningful basketball and SHOW people who he is and how great he can be.

So, in my opinion you cant have your cake and eat it too. If you're gonna have a thread where multiple people call him a mega-superstar in the making before he's played a single regular season basketball game, how can you ridicule someone for saying there's reasons to be concerned before he's played a single regular season basketball game.

Of course it's whataboutism, if that's like 5% of people. Even if it's 25% of people here, it would still be whataboutism, but it's nowhere near that high. I never understood why some poster feel the need to call out a ridiculous opinion and make it look like a lot of people agree with that notion.

its not whataboutism. I dont know what to tell ya. If YOU set the terms, and then decide they dont apply when its inconvenient, pointing out the obvious irony is not whataboutism. And in terms of percentage of people needed to make the point valid, first of all, it being 5% vs 100% doesnt determine if its whataboutism either. that doesnt enter the equation. Second of all I'm talking directly to a poster who called out someone who claimed "concern" (obviously joking btw). Talk about percentages... the one guy on this entire thread who even JOKES about being concerned gets called out by that poster. That was my point to HIM, not this entire thread. It's funny to use something as evidence ONLY when it helps your argument. Either the preseason is an important indicator or it isnt. Cant be both.

[Johnny Firpo]

This is not whataboutism. This goes back to a point I made several days ago when this thread was created. Based on 14 minutes of preseason basketball, people were posting comparisons to LeBron, Luka, Dirk, Kawhi, and KG. I pointed out how insanely silly that is. Let the kid play some meaningful basketball and SHOW people who he is and how great he can be.

So, in my opinion you cant have your cake and eat it too. If you're gonna have a thread where multiple people call him a mega-superstar in the making before he's played a single regular season basketball game, how can you ridicule someone for saying there's reasons to be concerned before he's played a single regular season basketball game.

Of course it's whataboutism, if that's like 5% of people. Even if it's 25% of people here, it would still be whataboutism, but it's nowhere near that high. I never understood why some poster feel the need to call out a ridiculous opinion and make it look like a lot of people agree with that notion.

its not whataboutism. I dont know what to tell ya. If YOU set the terms, and then decide they dont apply when its inconvenient, pointing out the obvious irony is not whataboutism. And in terms of percentage of people needed to make the point valid, first of all, it being 5% vs 100% doesnt determine if its whataboutism either. that doesnt enter the equation. Second of all I'm talking directly to a poster who called out someone who claimed "concern" (obviously joking btw). Talk about percentages... the one guy on this entire thread who even JOKES about being concerned gets called out by that poster. That was my point to HIM, not this entire thread. It's funny to use something as evidence ONLY when it helps your argument. Either the preseason is an important indicator or it isnt. Cant be both.

You know what, you are right. It's not whataboutism, it's bothsideism. I've mixed up the two terms.

[turnaroundJ]

Kawhi in PF form

[UcanUwill]

Actually some people ARE saying that lol. thats the point. See the below quotes from this thread.

I don't know, even out of these picked ones, to me just two last quotes implied he could be as good as LeBron. Saying he is as polished as rookie LeBron does not really mean guy thinks he will be next LeBron, people just exited, because for a 18 year old, Flaggs current ability is already super high level, which is true...

18 year old Luka was probably more polished than 18 year old Lebron and he did even go top 2 in his draft

however you wanna interpret it, its still pretty over the top. The real point here is still that people were using a 14 minute stretch of a single Preseason game to go absolutely ham about how amazing this kid is. If you're gonna set up logic like that, its funny to get defensive when someone else uses a single preseason game to express concern.

It pretty much just goes to show it really doesnt matter what this guy was able to do or not do in preseason. When he did well it was proof that hes a star in the making! When he did poorly its no big deal because MJ also had a bad game early in his career... or something lol. All of this is just pretty nonsensical. Hes neither a star or a bust. he literally hasnt played a single minute of real NBA basketball.

Its about what he is capable off, not if his shots fall in. He was clearly capable off a lot in a games we saw him in, hense the hype and optimist, its justified. Where in your case, you didnt point out that maybe he is too slow or smth actually substantial, negative commnts only mentions that he was 3 from 13, which can happen to any player. People pointing positives and people pointing negatives here are not the same at all, negatives mentioned here are not substantial...

When you scout a player, you look at things he can do and can't, what is translatable, you dont see guy have bad shooting night and just assume he sucks now.

[dirkdiggler4177]

Last preseason game:
13 points, 2 reb, 3 ast, 0 turnovers

Watch on YouTube

[UcanUwill]

Last preseason game:
13 points, 2 reb, 3 ast, 0 turnovers

Watch on YouTube

Maybe cause he plays at perimeter, but he looks taller than 6'9, or at least what NBA "6'9" is.

[dirkdiggler4177]

Last preseason game:
13 points, 2 reb, 3 ast, 0 turnovers

Watch on YouTube

Maybe cause he plays at perimeter, but he looks taller than 6'9, or at least what NBA "6'9" is.

what is cooper flagg real height? I see everytihing from 6.7 to 6.9


ChatGPT said:
Short version, the spread is barefoot vs in-shoes.

The standardized number from the 2025 NBA Draft Combine was 6-7.75 barefoot, which is about 203 cm. That is the best “real” measurement. (source: CBS Sports)

Teams and media often list in-shoes, which rounds him to 6-9, about 206 cm. For example, his NBA.com page lists 6-9.
(Source: NBA)

[UcanUwill]

Last preseason game:
13 points, 2 reb, 3 ast, 0 turnovers

Watch on YouTube

Maybe cause he plays at perimeter, but he looks taller than 6'9, or at least what NBA "6'9" is.

what is cooper flagg real height? I see everytihing from 6.7 to 6.9


ChatGPT said:
Short version, the spread is barefoot vs in-shoes.

The standardized number from the 2025 NBA Draft Combine was 6-7.75 barefoot, which is about 203 cm. That is the best “real” measurement. (source: CBS Sports)

Teams and media often list in-shoes, which rounds him to 6-9, about 206 cm. For example, his NBA.com page lists 6-9.
(Source: NBA)

I guess he is 6'9, last year they said he was like 6'7, he was one of those rare examples where he looked way taller and longer than what his college measurements claimed to be. They said he was like 6'7 with 6'11 wingspan in college and there was just no way, he looks way longer than that.

[FrodoBaggins]

He's relatively long-legged; has very long strides. Probably has legs the length of an average player a few inches taller than himself. UFC leg reach measurements show us how much relative leg length can vary. It's just like how arm length/wingspan varies. That, plus his quick two-footed leaping and 35.5" vertical, allows him to play far bigger than his 6'7.75" barefoot height, 7'0" wingspan, and 8'10.5" standing reach.

He's also really flexible, so he gets every inch out of his standing reach and wingspan. Additionally, he has the rare quality of using both arms to block shots. This lengthens his effective defensive radius when contesting shots. Most shotblockers are one-arm dominant and will reach across their bodies to contest shots if the play is happening on their non-dominant side.

[Ice Man]

The announcers kept saying Flagg was playing point last night, but he wasn't. Just handing off on the perimeter and then standing out there waiting for the kickout.

At any rate, these were his pre-season per 36 stats -

18.6 points, 53% TS%
7.4 rebounds
4.6 assists
2.1 steals
1.2 blocks
2.1 TOs

My prediction for his rookie year, before the season started, was 18/8/5, with a 58% TS%, so aside from the somewhat lower shooting efficiency, he was almost exactly on track.

He still has a lot to learn about off-ball movement, so that he gets more midrange/shortish shots after receiving passes, rather than either take long jump shots or drive from the perimeter. Watch AD, young man. Watch AD.

[FrodoBaggins]

The announcers kept saying Flagg was playing point last night, but he wasn't. Just handing off on the perimeter and then standing out there waiting for the kickout.

At any rate, these were his pre-season per 36 stats -

18.6 points, 53% TS%
7.4 rebounds
4.6 assists
2.1 steals
1.2 blocks
2.1 TOs

My prediction for his rookie year, before the season started, was 18/8/5, with a 58% TS%, so aside from the somewhat lower shooting efficiency, he was almost exactly on track.

He still has a lot to learn about off-ball movement, so that he gets more midrange/shortish shots after receiving passes, rather than either take long jump shots or drive from the perimeter. Watch AD, young man. Watch AD.

Luka's rookie preseason per 36 stats for comparison:

18.4 points, 62.05% TS
6.2 rebounds
4.3 assists
1.8 steals
1.5 blocks
4.0 TOs

Hot shooting from three (43.5% on 7.1 attempts) gives Doncic the shooting efficiency advantage, but more turnover-prone. Cooper's also nearly a year younger (18.5 draft age vs. 19.3 draft age).

[Bob8]

The announcers kept saying Flagg was playing point last night, but he wasn't. Just handing off on the perimeter and then standing out there waiting for the kickout.

At any rate, these were his pre-season per 36 stats -

18.6 points, 53% TS%
7.4 rebounds
4.6 assists
2.1 steals
1.2 blocks
2.1 TOs

My prediction for his rookie year, before the season started, was 18/8/5, with a 58% TS%, so aside from the somewhat lower shooting efficiency, he was almost exactly on track.

He still has a lot to learn about off-ball movement, so that he gets more midrange/shortish shots after receiving passes, rather than either take long jump shots or drive from the perimeter. Watch AD, young man. Watch AD.

Luka's rookie preseason per 36 stats for comparison:

18.4 points, 62.05% TS
6.2 rebounds
4.3 assists
1.8 steals
1.5 blocks
4.0 TOs

Hot shooting from three (43.5% on 7.1 attempts) gives Doncic the shooting efficiency advantage, but more turnover-prone. Cooper's also nearly a year younger (18.5 draft age vs. 19.3 draft age).

Don't you think that it's far more representative to look at Luka's 72 games RS? Making conclusions from 4 games per 36 stats is kinda funny.

[Ice Man]

Don't you think that it's far more representative to look at Luka's 72 games RS? Making conclusions from 4 games per 36 stats is kinda funny.

Nobody's drawing conclusions; just looking at the preliminary data. And for that exercise, pre-season vs. pre-season is the only fair comparison.

[dirkdiggler4177]

The announcers kept saying Flagg was playing point last night, but he wasn't. Just handing off on the perimeter and then standing out there waiting for the kickout.

At any rate, these were his pre-season per 36 stats -

18.6 points, 53% TS%
7.4 rebounds
4.6 assists
2.1 steals
1.2 blocks
2.1 TOs

My prediction for his rookie year, before the season started, was 18/8/5, with a 58% TS%, so aside from the somewhat lower shooting efficiency, he was almost exactly on track.

He still has a lot to learn about off-ball movement, so that he gets more midrange/shortish shots after receiving passes, rather than either take long jump shots or drive from the perimeter. Watch AD, young man. Watch AD.

Luka's rookie preseason per 36 stats for comparison:

18.4 points, 62.05% TS
6.2 rebounds
4.3 assists
1.8 steals
1.5 blocks
4.0 TOs

Hot shooting from three (43.5% on 7.1 attempts) gives Doncic the shooting efficiency advantage, but more turnover-prone. Cooper's also nearly a year younger (18.5 draft age vs. 19.3 draft age).

Luka was also much more experienced and overall skilled

[FrodoBaggins]

The announcers kept saying Flagg was playing point last night, but he wasn't. Just handing off on the perimeter and then standing out there waiting for the kickout.

At any rate, these were his pre-season per 36 stats -

18.6 points, 53% TS%
7.4 rebounds
4.6 assists
2.1 steals
1.2 blocks
2.1 TOs

My prediction for his rookie year, before the season started, was 18/8/5, with a 58% TS%, so aside from the somewhat lower shooting efficiency, he was almost exactly on track.

He still has a lot to learn about off-ball movement, so that he gets more midrange/shortish shots after receiving passes, rather than either take long jump shots or drive from the perimeter. Watch AD, young man. Watch AD.

Luka's rookie preseason per 36 stats for comparison:

18.4 points, 62.05% TS
6.2 rebounds
4.3 assists
1.8 steals
1.5 blocks
4.0 TOs

Hot shooting from three (43.5% on 7.1 attempts) gives Doncic the shooting efficiency advantage, but more turnover-prone. Cooper's also nearly a year younger (18.5 draft age vs. 19.3 draft age).

Don't you think that it's far more representative to look at Luka's 72 games RS? Making conclusions from 4 games per 36 stats is kinda funny.

It's to temper expectations & put things into perspective.

[Bob8]

Don't you think that it's far more representative to look at Luka's 72 games RS? Making conclusions from 4 games per 36 stats is kinda funny.

Nobody's drawing conclusions; just looking at the preliminary data. And for that exercise, pre-season vs. pre-season is the only fair comparison.

So you're looking at useless 4 games preseason per 36 minutes data for making fair comparisons but not making any conclusions? Interesting.

Luka was far more skilled and accomplished player entering Nba, Flagg has better athleticism, that's the only comparison we can make at the moment. I doubt Flagg can come anywhere near to Luka's counting stats in year 1 and it's even more difficult for year 2, in which Luka made a big leap.

[Bob8]

Luka's rookie preseason per 36 stats for comparison:

18.4 points, 62.05% TS
6.2 rebounds
4.3 assists
1.8 steals
1.5 blocks
4.0 TOs

Hot shooting from three (43.5% on 7.1 attempts) gives Doncic the shooting efficiency advantage, but more turnover-prone. Cooper's also nearly a year younger (18.5 draft age vs. 19.3 draft age).

Don't you think that it's far more representative to look at Luka's 72 games RS? Making conclusions from 4 games per 36 stats is kinda funny.

It's to temper expectations & put things into perspective.

If you want to put things in perspective and temper expectations you rather write down Luka's per 36 RS numbers, which I understand should be the goal for Flagg.

[FrodoBaggins]

The announcers kept saying Flagg was playing point last night, but he wasn't. Just handing off on the perimeter and then standing out there waiting for the kickout.

At any rate, these were his pre-season per 36 stats -

18.6 points, 53% TS%
7.4 rebounds
4.6 assists
2.1 steals
1.2 blocks
2.1 TOs

My prediction for his rookie year, before the season started, was 18/8/5, with a 58% TS%, so aside from the somewhat lower shooting efficiency, he was almost exactly on track.

He still has a lot to learn about off-ball movement, so that he gets more midrange/shortish shots after receiving passes, rather than either take long jump shots or drive from the perimeter. Watch AD, young man. Watch AD.

Luka's rookie preseason per 36 stats for comparison:

18.4 points, 62.05% TS
6.2 rebounds
4.3 assists
1.8 steals
1.5 blocks
4.0 TOs

Hot shooting from three (43.5% on 7.1 attempts) gives Doncic the shooting efficiency advantage, but more turnover-prone. Cooper's also nearly a year younger (18.5 draft age vs. 19.3 draft age).

Luka was also much more experienced and overall skilled

Luka was older and more skilled in a narrower set of select skills. He was, however, smaller, less athletic (speed, power, quickness, etc), dramatically worse on defense, and playing off-ball on offense.

Both guys have their strengths and weaknesses.

[tsherkin]

He's looking good. It's the preseason, so it's mostly meaningless, but it's better to look good than not. The athleticism is there. The effort is there. You can see the off-ball action, you can see the drives and so forth.

In general, but especially for his age, he's looking quite good. And it's nice that he doesn't have to hit the league running as a 20+ ppg scorer. That's going to make life simpler for him.