Cooper Flagg

[UcanUwill]

Shawn Marion

Watched quite a few of his HS games, especially being a major Duke fan. Can't wait to see what he does as a Freshman.

But anyways...this is the closest i'm seen to a good comparison! Long, lengthy, decent defender especially in the paint, great midrange, active around the basket, streaky shooter from outside.

Also to everyone saying he is a Center...he is not he'll be a hybrid 3/4...most likely a 4 at the pro-level. He played Center in HS because he was 6'8" and bigger than virtually everyone else (And even then played mostly in the High-Post not a low-post Center). But he plays more like a stretch 4 on high-post, pick and pop/pick and roll type. My guess is at Duke he'll play mostly the 4 spot with some spot minutes at both the 3 and 5 (https://247sports.com/player/cooper-flagg-46129443/) . Once drafted he'll play mostly at the 4 spot.

Personally, I am.certain he will be closer to 5/4 than 3/4, hes just not going to be a wing, I do not see that at all, thats just how game is played now. He is just too good interior defender and rim protector to not be a big, most likely a center in all honestly. I do not think his perimeter game warants him being a 3/4 at all, but his d is insane. He is around 6'9, but I would be a bit surprised if he does not grow more, and I dont know his wingspan, but I know he has some of the widest shoulders I have ever seen on a man.

[jbk1234]

Maybe let the kid play against Division I college level competition and go from there. Cam Reddish and Harrison Barnes were both projected to be No. 1 overall heading into college.

[sikma42]

17 years old playing with the USA Select Team vs. the National team.

6-10, elite athlete.

What's his NBA projection/comparison? Sounds like he could be the next great NBA player.

Check his pro comps.


I feel like this dude is starting to get overrated. Good prospect, but people trying to put him in the unicorn prospect which he is not.

I see him as a Swiss Army Knight who can do a little bit of everything in the court. I think he can be a AK47 type player.

This. When we start comparing him to KG or Lebron then we’re getting a bit silly. He should be a very very good player for a long time, but he may not even be the best player in his class or the next. And we know that he isn’t better than Wemby.

Just hard to call someone generational when that’s the case.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

[JustBuzzin]

17 years old playing with the USA Select Team vs. the National team.

6-10, elite athlete.

What's his NBA projection/comparison? Sounds like he could be the next great NBA player.

Check his pro comps.


I feel like this dude is starting to get overrated. Good prospect, but people trying to put him in the unicorn prospect which he is not.

I see him as a Swiss Army Knight who can do a little bit of everything in the court. I think he can be a AK47 type player.

This. When we start comparing him to KG or Lebron then we’re getting a bit silly. He should be a very very good player for a long time, but he may not even be the best player in his class or the next. And we know that he isn’t better than Wemby.

Just hard to call someone generational when that’s the case.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Agreed. I'm already on record saying Ace Bailey will be the #1 pick.

I like Flagg as a prospect, but the hype just seems a bit much at this point. He's not going to be a explosive offensive player. He's more of a jack of all trades. He's going to give you 20ppg/8rpg/6apg I think those are his ceiling stats. That's a damn good player in reality, but not generational.

[UcanUwill]

17 years old playing with the USA Select Team vs. the National team.

6-10, elite athlete.

What's his NBA projection/comparison? Sounds like he could be the next great NBA player.

Check his pro comps.


I feel like this dude is starting to get overrated. Good prospect, but people trying to put him in the unicorn prospect which he is not.

I see him as a Swiss Army Knight who can do a little bit of everything in the court. I think he can be a AK47 type player.

He can do a little bit of everything, but ehen u say that, it makes it sound like you know - jack of all trades, master of none, but thats ain it. He can do everything to sone extent, but his defense in particular should be insane. After Wembanyana, I think he is best defensive prospect we have seen in many years. His intensity and ability to use his length on defense is special. Also very athletic.

[ryan in Maine]

He's working on his range (see 1:10) --

Watch on YouTube

[penggemar]

I'm more excited for Nolan Traore in 25 Draft and AJ Dybantsa in 26.

[JustBuzzin]

17 years old playing with the USA Select Team vs. the National team.

6-10, elite athlete.

What's his NBA projection/comparison? Sounds like he could be the next great NBA player.

Check his pro comps.


I feel like this dude is starting to get overrated. Good prospect, but people trying to put him in the unicorn prospect which he is not.

I see him as a Swiss Army Knight who can do a little bit of everything in the court. I think he can be a AK47 type player.

He can do a little bit of everything, but ehen u say that, it makes it sound like you know - jack of all trades, master of none, but thats ain it. He can do everything to sone extent, but his defense in particular should be insane. After Wembanyana, I think he is best defensive prospect we have seen in many years. His intensity and ability to use his length on defense is special. Also very athletic.

His defense is great for a high school kid, but he was the biggest, strongest, fastest player on the floor in highschool. Let's see how that defense translates vs better competition in college.

Being a jack of all trades player is not a bad thing. He has an all around game. I just don't see him being this big time scorer on offense. I feel like he will be a 20ppg guy with 8rpg and 6apg with great defense. That's still a all-star caliber player in my mind. I just don't see generational prospect.

[UcanUwill]

Check his pro comps.


I feel like this dude is starting to get overrated. Good prospect, but people trying to put him in the unicorn prospect which he is not.

I see him as a Swiss Army Knight who can do a little bit of everything in the court. I think he can be a AK47 type player.

This. When we start comparing him to KG or Lebron then we’re getting a bit silly. He should be a very very good player for a long time, but he may not even be the best player in his class or the next. And we know that he isn’t better than Wemby.

Just hard to call someone generational when that’s the case.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Agreed. I'm already on record saying Ace Bailey will be the #1 pick.

I like Flagg as a prospect, but the hype just seems a bit much at this point. He's not going to be a explosive offensive player. He's more of a jack of all trades. He's going to give you 20ppg/8rpg/6apg I think those are his ceiling stats. That's a damn good player in reality, but not generational.

So what we suppose to do when guy looks amazing? Keep saying, yeah, but he can be Cam Reddish? If thats the goal? This guy already was killing guys 2 years older than him on world stage at FIBA. while playing center. Yes, he was a bad scorer, but there are so many more ways to impact the game than scoring. I bet he will never be top 5 in scoring guy, but if thats your bar for superstar, then we are just not on tge sane page. Garnett never was tier 1 scorer either, but he probably was top 3 player of his generation.

Flagg wasnt biggest or strongest in FIBA, not even close, he was 15 year old child, yet he still put probably best defensive perfornance that comp has ever seen.

[JustBuzzin]

This. When we start comparing him to KG or Lebron then we’re getting a bit silly. He should be a very very good player for a long time, but he may not even be the best player in his class or the next. And we know that he isn’t better than Wemby.

Just hard to call someone generational when that’s the case.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Agreed. I'm already on record saying Ace Bailey will be the #1 pick.

I like Flagg as a prospect, but the hype just seems a bit much at this point. He's not going to be a explosive offensive player. He's more of a jack of all trades. He's going to give you 20ppg/8rpg/6apg I think those are his ceiling stats. That's a damn good player in reality, but not generational.

So what we suppose to do when guy looks amazing? Keep saying, yeah, but he can be Cam Reddish? If thats the goal? This guy already was killing guys 2 years older than him on world stage at FIBA. while playing center. Yes, he was a bad scorer, but there are so many more ways to impact the game than scoring. I bet he will never be top 5 in scoring guy, but if thats your bar for superstar, then we are just not on tge sane page. Garnett never was tier 1 scorer either, but he probably was top 3 player of his generation.

Flagg wasnt biggest or strongest in FIBA, not even close, he was 15 year old child, yet he still put probably best defensive perfornance that comp has ever seen.

Bro what are you talking about?

I simply said I don't view him as a generational prospect which is a fair comment. I didn't say he will suck. I even said he will be a all-star caliber player. I just don't see generational prospect.

If I'm wrong I will gladly eat crow in the future, but it seems like you trying to label me as a hater for giving an honest opinion.

[og15]

Shawn Marion

Watched quite a few of his HS games, especially being a major Duke fan. Can't wait to see what he does as a Freshman.

But anyways...this is the closest i'm seen to a good comparison! Long, lengthy, decent defender especially in the paint, great midrange, active around the basket, streaky shooter from outside.

Also to everyone saying he is a Center...he is not he'll be a hybrid 3/4...most likely a 4 at the pro-level. He played Center in HS because he was 6'8" and bigger than virtually everyone else (And even then played mostly in the High-Post not a low-post Center). But he plays more like a stretch 4 on high-post, pick and pop/pick and roll type. My guess is at Duke he'll play mostly the 4 spot with some spot minutes at both the 3 and 5 (https://247sports.com/player/cooper-flagg-46129443/) . Once drafted he'll play mostly at the 4 spot.

We would have to call him a "bigger" Shawn Marion then as Marion didn't have his size. A bigger Shawn Marion with better shot creating skills as he has a shot that can actually be used in isolation and off the dribble, that is a REALLY nice player.

Looking at his size and if we're saying he's a better on ball guy and passer than Marion, then we're looking at more of a guy like KG. Doesn't mean he'll be as good as KG, but in terms of his game and measurables, KG is not a bad comparison.

[Chuck Everett]

Kevin Garnett was also 6'11 (at a minimum). Flagg does have a big wingspan though, but KG was a freak at his size.

[nate33]

Man, AK47 is so overrated on these boards. The guy made one All-Star game and never averaged more than 17 points. He was a somewhat overrated defender because he had high steals/blocks totals while his positional defense was merely good, not great. (He was also the beneficiary of some serious home town cooking from the stat keeper. There is a massive disparity in his blocks and steals rate at home versus away.)

If Cooper Flagg turns out to be the next AK47, it would be a crushing disappointment.

The best comp I can think of in today's game is Banchero - maybe not quite the same scoring mentality (lower usage), but a bit better in offensive and defensive awareness. Maybe a cross between Banchero and Chet.

[cupcakesnake]

What's up with the AK-47 comps?

Dude plays nothing at all like him

Because he's a freakish defensive prospect. Crazy mobility, length, and timing to the point where he's regularly blocking jumpers. It's what pops most about his game right now. The comps to AD, KG, and AK47 capture that part of his theoretical value/impact at the NBA level.

His offensive game is pretty interesting too. Crazy elevation on his pull up jumper. Promise of functional handles and very good touch. High BBIQ with some of his passing and movement.

[og15]

Kevin Garnett was also 6'11 (at a minimum). Flagg does have a big wingspan though, but KG was a freak at his size.

Yea, KG was huge, obviously Flagg could still grow, but even if he does not, it doesn't matter. He actually has the similar frame and movement style to young KG, long arms like you mentioned. Marion is more similar in measurables to someone like Mikal Bridges while Flagg has 4/5 size.

Kirilenko is a good one too, right in the middle or a Marion and KG size wise, though he's not as skinny as young AK and looks like someone who could fill out more.

Should be interesting, but I'm excited to see how he progresses.

[UcanUwill]

Agreed. I'm already on record saying Ace Bailey will be the #1 pick.

I like Flagg as a prospect, but the hype just seems a bit much at this point. He's not going to be a explosive offensive player. He's more of a jack of all trades. He's going to give you 20ppg/8rpg/6apg I think those are his ceiling stats. That's a damn good player in reality, but not generational.

So what we suppose to do when guy looks amazing? Keep saying, yeah, but he can be Cam Reddish? If thats the goal? This guy already was killing guys 2 years older than him on world stage at FIBA. while playing center. Yes, he was a bad scorer, but there are so many more ways to impact the game than scoring. I bet he will never be top 5 in scoring guy, but if thats your bar for superstar, then we are just not on tge sane page. Garnett never was tier 1 scorer either, but he probably was top 3 player of his generation.

Flagg wasnt biggest or strongest in FIBA, not even close, he was 15 year old child, yet he still put probably best defensive perfornance that comp has ever seen.

Bro what are you talking about?

I simply said I don't view him as a generational prospect which is a fair comment. I didn't say he will suck. I even said he will be a all-star caliber player. I just don't see generational prospect.

If I'm wrong I will gladly eat crow in the future, but it seems like you trying to label me as a hater for giving an honest opinion.

Well, I think he is generational prospect, we will see how it goes, but we disagree there. Your argument why he isnt generation is that he wont average that many points, I agree he wont average that many points, but I disagree that this does not make genetational.

People, including you, say he looked amazing because he was "tallest, fastest and strongest" player so far... Then how about FIBA 2022, that didnt happen? He was one of the most undersized bigmen in the tournament and 2 years younger than most. He averaged 10 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.9 blocks in 19.6 minutes per game, do the math, he was Bill Russelling these guys. In Finals against Spain, team with multiple 6'9 kids and their star center Mara, who even back then was way above 7 feet already, 15 year old, 6'7 center Cooper Flagg, ended the game with 10 points. 17 rebounds, 8 steals and 4 blocks. Guy just took a dump on Aday Mara who was 2 years older, about 6 inches taller, snd was projected top 5 in future drafts. Thats when Flagg was born and when Aday Mara has died as a super prospect. Flagg only scored 10 points, but destroyed that game.

[165bows]

I think there is no prospect with more obvious comparison than this guy - he is Kevin Garnett. AK47 while super beasty, you selling Flagg way too short with this comp, is it because hes white haha? He is Kevin Garnett guys, it is so obvious to me.

That actually seems like a good point. Generally we as a group stink at making this type of comparison lol.

[Wingy]

Check his pro comps.


I feel like this dude is starting to get overrated. Good prospect, but people trying to put him in the unicorn prospect which he is not.

I see him as a Swiss Army Knight who can do a little bit of everything in the court. I think he can be a AK47 type player.

This. When we start comparing him to KG or Lebron then we’re getting a bit silly. He should be a very very good player for a long time, but he may not even be the best player in his class or the next. And we know that he isn’t better than Wemby.

Just hard to call someone generational when that’s the case.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Agreed. I'm already on record saying Ace Bailey will be the #1 pick.

I like Flagg as a prospect, but the hype just seems a bit much at this point. He's not going to be a explosive offensive player. He's more of a jack of all trades. He's going to give you 20ppg/8rpg/6apg I think those are his ceiling stats. That's a damn good player in reality, but not generational.

Nice to see takes becoming more sober on this guy. As stated in previous post, I do like him a lot and this class as one to target when you’re bad, or mediocre treadmill. But yeah, the hype has gotten out of control.

To some degree it happens nearly every year (but not this year for sure!). OJ Mayo, Jabari Parker, just so many guys get talked about like this next big thing and you just can’t see it compared to their hype. Note I see Cooper as a definitively better prospect than both of those examples, but then again, his hype is commensurately greater than what they received.

Probably a lot like the GOAT debate. This future greatness is the here and now and I’m a part of it!

[GSWFan1994]

One interesting aspect that I believe wasn't mentioned yet is that Flagg is still 17 years old. Birthday is mid December.

He will enter the draft as a 18 year old.

If you analyze in historical terms, he's basically dominating his competition which is 1 or 2 years older than him.

This is a major sign that, once he hits the NBA (= 2 steps above regarding the competition level he's currently facing), he has a huge chance of success, given his improvement rate shown, his body maturing, access to pro training/coaching and so on.

I'm very high on him. Obviously not a LeBron/Wemby level of prospect, but one of the best that has appeared in the last 10 years or so, I'd say.

[UcanUwill]

Man, AK47 is so overrated on these boards. The guy made one All-Star game and never averaged more than 17 points. He was a somewhat overrated defender because he had high steals/blocks totals while his positional defense was merely good, not great. (He was also the beneficiary of some serious home town cooking from the stat keeper. There is a massive disparity in his blocks and steals rate at home versus away.)

If Cooper Flagg turns out to be the next AK47, it would be a crushing disappointment.

The best comp I can think of in today's game is Banchero - maybe not quite the same scoring mentality (lower usage), but a bit better in offensive and defensive awareness. Maybe a cross between Banchero and Chet.

Disagree on few points. Not sure Kirilenko is underrated, he was awesone. And he surely wasn't great positionary, he was freaking legendary positional defender. I have seen games where Kirilrnkos defense won team the game and ge barely defended ball handler at all. I always come back to 2007 Russia vs Lithuania game, Kirilenkos help defense on pick and rolls was so good, I learned basketball that day, I have never seen guy who chased perimeter defender, impact help defense so much, it was insane.

Kirilenko will end with few nba accolades, because he was injury prone, and he was used wrong. Euros always used him as a big, where he dominated, 2006 NBA however still havent figured out small ball, and played him as a wing small forward, which was just stupid. Imagine Kirilenko today, he would be Draymond Green, but way better...

That said, I agree that Flagg ending as Kirilenko would be a bit disappointing for sure, but AK47 today would be a star, talk about a guy born too early.