Cooper Flagg

[Johnny Firpo]

:roll: at the folks circle jerking to some highlights vs a division 2 college squad that’s utterly outclassed by Duke at every position.

Dude, most of us here have been following Flagg since at least the 2022 U17 World Cup, where he dominated and ended up all-tournament as a 15-year-old. Very ignorant of you to say that we are reacting to one game. No, we are reacting to he continuing to prove that he is so much ahead of the curve. Also, I'm very high on the 2025 draft in general, and I am sure we will hype up those prospects too, but so far, Coop looks like a pretty comfortable Nr.1. We'll see how this changes, if it changes throughout the season. He could dominate, but someone else could also dominate, and make it interesting. We'll see, but for now, he is the clear Nr. 1, based on his career and tools (physical and skill).

If Flagg is an early consensus #1 it's probably not a great class.

Why are you skeptical about Flagg? What flaws do you see that others don't?

[UcanUwill]

Why has it taken so long to get another white dude from the USA that is a legit elite prospect? I cant even remember the last one, who was it? Tom Chambers? McHale?

I guess Chet qualifies but he seems foreign somehow

Kevin Love comes to mind.

Was Love elite prospect? I know he was a high draft pick, but was he that elite? I am pulling this right of my ass, could be way wrong, but this might be first time in like 50 years where first American taken in a draft, will be white boy, in back to back drafts (Sheppard this year second overall, first American taken).

Jimmer, Morrison and Redick were pretty huge, but only Redick kind off panned out.

[SweaterBae]

Dude, most of us here have been following Flagg since at least the 2022 U17 World Cup, where he dominated and ended up all-tournament as a 15-year-old. Very ignorant of you to say that we are reacting to one game. No, we are reacting to he continuing to prove that he is so much ahead of the curve. Also, I'm very high on the 2025 draft in general, and I am sure we will hype up those prospects too, but so far, Coop looks like a pretty comfortable Nr.1. We'll see how this changes, if it changes throughout the season. He could dominate, but someone else could also dominate, and make it interesting. We'll see, but for now, he is the clear Nr. 1, based on his career and tools (physical and skill).

If Flagg is an early consensus #1 it's probably not a great class.

Why are you skeptical about Flagg? What flaws do you see that others don't?

A defensive player with low measurables who isn't yet a great scorer? Seriously?

[Johnny Firpo]

If Flagg is an early consensus #1 it's probably not a great class.

Why are you skeptical about Flagg? What flaws do you see that others don't?

A defensive player with low measurables who isn't yet a great scorer? Seriously?

Low measurables? What are you talking about? There are no official measurements yet, but people have already calculated from some of his dunks that his wingspan is now around 7'3, and his current height in shoes around 6'10. He looks at least Ingram's length, and definitely looks longer than Aaron Gordon. He moves extremely well, fluid and very athletic. Not a 1% NBA athlete, but a very good one.

He has also shown tremendous improvement in his shot, which right now looks textbook. Quickly down into his his gather movement, goes up into his shot even quicker, 90 degrees at his elbow, around 110 on his shoulders, which result in a very high set point, shoots way above his head. One motion release, no thumb flick, looks perfect.

With that size and form, fully expect him to be a very good to elite shooter as early as this year. His ball handling is also totally atypical. Someone his size and length rarely has that level of ball handling. I see an elite prospect who learned the game well and will only start to take on a bigger scoring responsibility, but not because he couldn't have before, but rather because he focused to be a great all-around player first.

[Johnny Firpo]

Why has it taken so long to get another white dude from the USA that is a legit elite prospect? I cant even remember the last one, who was it? Tom Chambers? McHale?

I guess Chet qualifies but he seems foreign somehow

Kevin Love comes to mind.

Was Love elite prospect? I know he was a high draft pick, but was he that elite? I am pulling this right of my ass, could be way wrong, but this might be first time in like 50 years where first American taken in a draft, will be white boy, in back to back drafts (Sheppard this year second overall, first American taken).

Jimmer, Morrison and Redick were pretty huge, but only Redick kind off panned out.

He wasn't. He was a good prospect, but nowhere near this level. He was a top 5-8 pick in an okay, but not great draft. Flagg will/could be a consensus Nr. 1 in what is expected to be a much stronger class.

[SweaterBae]

Why are you skeptical about Flagg? What flaws do you see that others don't?

A defensive player with low measurables who isn't yet a great scorer? Seriously?

Low measurables? What are you talking about? There are no official measurements yet, but people have already calculated from some of his dunks that his wingspan is now around 7'3, and his current height in shoes around 6'10. He looks at least Ingram's length, and definitely looks longer than Aaron Gordon. He moves extremely well, fluid and very athletic. Not a 1% NBA athlete, but a very good one.

He has also shown tremendous improvement in his shot, which right now looks textbook. Quickly down into his his gather movement, goes up into his shot even quicker, 90 degrees at his elbow, around 110 on his shoulders, which result in a very high set point, shoots way above his head. One motion release, no thumb flick, looks perfect.

With that size and form, fully expect him to be a very good to elite shooter as early as this year. His ball handling is also totally atypical. Someone his size and length rarely has that level of ball handling. I see an elite prospect who learned the game well and will only start to take on a bigger scoring responsibility, but not because he couldn't have before, but rather because he focused to be a great all-around player first.

You're making **** up. The last metrics showed his ape value was below average for an NBA player.

[Johnny Firpo]

A defensive player with low measurables who isn't yet a great scorer? Seriously?

Low measurables? What are you talking about? There are no official measurements yet, but people have already calculated from some of his dunks that his wingspan is now around 7'3, and his current height in shoes around 6'10. He looks at least Ingram's length, and definitely looks longer than Aaron Gordon. He moves extremely well, fluid and very athletic. Not a 1% NBA athlete, but a very good one.

He has also shown tremendous improvement in his shot, which right now looks textbook. Quickly down into his his gather movement, goes up into his shot even quicker, 90 degrees at his elbow, around 110 on his shoulders, which result in a very high set point, shoots way above his head. One motion release, no thumb flick, looks perfect.

With that size and form, fully expect him to be a very good to elite shooter as early as this year. His ball handling is also totally atypical. Someone his size and length rarely has that level of ball handling. I see an elite prospect who learned the game well and will only start to take on a bigger scoring responsibility, but not because he couldn't have before, but rather because he focused to be a great all-around player first.

You're making **** up. The last metrics showed his ape value was below average for an NBA player.

Can you send a link on what are you referring to? Because I have no idea, and google didn't find anything on that search.

[CobraCommander]

Gordon Hayward 2.0

Such a tired take. White guy compared to other white guy.

Taking the the race goggles off - his playstyle, athleticism, and IQ are most similar to a HS Lebron. He's beyond his years in skills and feel for the game. Overall incredibly skilled, and athletic - like Lebron. He's a man amongst boys.

I agree - the race things lazy or uninformed BUT he could be Emoni Bates- we won’t know this he has 5 games in Duke under his belt: and really we won’t know till he plays UNC:

[The-Power]

From what I understand - Ace Bailey may go #1 overall. Not sure he's a lock

That would be very surprising considering that he's super raw and lacks a lot of basketball fundamentals. He's intriguing for what he could be if everything clicks but Flagg is so much more of a sure contributor while not lacking in upside either. Bailey would be lucky to be selected 2nd – there is some competition (most notably Nolan Traoré).

[The-Power]

If Flagg is an early consensus #1 it's probably not a great class.

He has a very strong argument for being at least a top 5 prospect coming into college over the past 10 years. That's pretty good.

[The Servant]

:roll: at the folks circle jerking to some highlights vs a division 2 college squad that’s utterly outclassed by Duke at every position.

Dude, most of us here have been following Flagg since at least the 2022 U17 World Cup, where he dominated and ended up all-tournament as a 15-year-old. Very ignorant of you to say that we are reacting to one game. No, we are reacting to he continuing to prove that he is so much ahead of the curve. Also, I'm very high on the 2025 draft in general, and I am sure we will hype up those prospects too, but so far, Coop looks like a pretty comfortable Nr.1. We'll see how this changes, if it changes throughout the season. He could dominate, but someone else could also dominate, and make it interesting. We'll see, but for now, he is the clear Nr. 1, based on his career and tools (physical and skill).

If Flagg is an early consensus #1 it's probably not a great class.

Real question, do you see Flagg's peak being higher than Brandon Roy's peak?

[UcanUwill]

Gordon Hayward 2.0

Such a tired take. White guy compared to other white guy.

Taking the the race goggles off - his playstyle, athleticism, and IQ are most similar to a HS Lebron. He's beyond his years in skills and feel for the game. Overall incredibly skilled, and athletic - like Lebron. He's a man amongst boys.

I agree - the race things lazy or uninformed BUT he could be Emoni Bates- we won’t know this he has 5 games in Duke under his belt: and really we won’t know till he plays UNC:

Its clear his defense would translate day one, he is not Bates, at worst he is NBA player, but he is still 17 years old. People downplaying him for his offensive limitations, like any 17 year old should be first or second option in the NBA. Dude is way ahead of the curve in every aspect, is just that his defense is already such a clear standout.

[sikma42]

Such a tired take. White guy compared to other white guy.

Taking the the race goggles off - his playstyle, athleticism, and IQ are most similar to a HS Lebron. He's beyond his years in skills and feel for the game. Overall incredibly skilled, and athletic - like Lebron. He's a man amongst boys.

I agree - the race things lazy or uninformed BUT he could be Emoni Bates- we won’t know this he has 5 games in Duke under his belt: and really we won’t know till he plays UNC:

Its clear his defense would translate day one, he is not Bates, at worst he is NBA player, but he is still 17 years old. People downplaying him for his offensive limitations, like any 17 year old should be first or second option in the NBA. Dude is way ahead of the curve in every aspect, is just that his defense is already such a clear standout.

I keep forgetting he is only 17. That kind of changes things a bit imo. He might still grow an inch or two.


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[AbC?]

Flagg has a big frame and wide clavicles/broadness for a 17 year old. It's impressive that he's 6'9/6'10 and doesn't look like a complete string bean and is proportional.


Next to Lebron


He's not going to be an Ingram/Kirilenko slender-man type build as he fills out and physically matures. He's going to be closer to Lebron/Doncic/Tatum where he'll be able to muscle his way to his spots. That difference is a big separator between being a run of the mill all-star and being one of the best players in the league.

[Jcool0]

Kevin Love comes to mind.

Was Love elite prospect? I know he was a high draft pick, but was he that elite? I am pulling this right of my ass, could be way wrong, but this might be first time in like 50 years where first American taken in a draft, will be white boy, in back to back drafts (Sheppard this year second overall, first American taken).

Jimmer, Morrison and Redick were pretty huge, but only Redick kind off panned out.

He wasn't. He was a good prospect, but nowhere near this level. He was a top 5-8 pick in an okay, but not great draft. Flagg will/could be a consensus Nr. 1 in what is expected to be a much stronger class.

ESPN had him as the #1 high school player. He was Pac-10 Player of the year, All American and got UCLA to the Final Four. He was the 5th pick in the draft in were Russell Westbrook & Derrick Rose went ahead of him. Eric Gordon went #7 and Brook Lopez went #10.

[Johnny Firpo]

Was Love elite prospect? I know he was a high draft pick, but was he that elite? I am pulling this right of my ass, could be way wrong, but this might be first time in like 50 years where first American taken in a draft, will be white boy, in back to back drafts (Sheppard this year second overall, first American taken).

Jimmer, Morrison and Redick were pretty huge, but only Redick kind off panned out.

He wasn't. He was a good prospect, but nowhere near this level. He was a top 5-8 pick in an okay, but not great draft. Flagg will/could be a consensus Nr. 1 in what is expected to be a much stronger class.

ESPN had him as the #1 high school player. He was Pac-10 Player of the year, All American and got UCLA to the Final Four. He was the 5th pick in the draft in were Russell Westbrook & Derrick Rose went ahead of him. Eric Gordon went #7 and Brook Lopez went #10.

He was a very accomplished, great player, that wasn't the question, but whether he was an elite prospect, and I think he wasn't, but I guess that depends on how you define an elite prospect. To me, someone who have a chance to be a top 5 player in the league.

[hoopznsuch]

Kenyon Martin with an offensive game

[Jcool0]

He wasn't. He was a good prospect, but nowhere near this level. He was a top 5-8 pick in an okay, but not great draft. Flagg will/could be a consensus Nr. 1 in what is expected to be a much stronger class.

ESPN had him as the #1 high school player. He was Pac-10 Player of the year, All American and got UCLA to the Final Four. He was the 5th pick in the draft in were Russell Westbrook & Derrick Rose went ahead of him. Eric Gordon went #7 and Brook Lopez went #10.

He was a very accomplished, great player, that wasn't the question, but whether he was an elite prospect, and I think he wasn't, but I guess that depends on how you define an elite prospect. To me, someone who have a chance to be a top 5 player in the league.

His last years in Minnesota he finished in the top 6 & top 11 for MVP, an 3x All Star and 2x All NBA player. Averaging 26 points and 12 rebounds.

[tsherkin]

Kenyon Martin with an offensive game

So... a totally different player than Kenyon Martin, perhaps taller, and in most other ways disconnected save for approximate height?

[ItsDanger]

Flagg has intangibles you can't teach.