Cooper Flagg

[wegotthabeet]

I love Flagg, but don't get crazy.

It'd be amazing if he could get to Tatum's level.

He'll be way better. A full tier higher than Tatum.

[Handlez]

I love Flagg, but don't get crazy.

It'd be amazing if he could get to Tatum's level.

He'll be way better. A full tier higher than Tatum.

Tatum is what, a top 5 to 10 player in the world?

I mean come on.

I know hyping a player is fun, but I will be extremely happy as a Flagg fan if he can have a career similar to Tatum.

Saying he's a tier ahead of an arguably top 5 player in the world is wild to me.

[JustBuzzin]

Are former players not sold on this kid?

I have seen multiple NBA players compared him to Ak47. Seems like they selling him low. To be fair that was my original pro comp for Flagg. As the season went on I changed my comp to Grant Hill. I think Flagg is a bit more talented offensively than Ak47.

Maybe the NBA players just want to see more once he gets in the league.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Are former players not sold on this kid?

I have seen multiple NBA players compared him to Ak47. Seems like they selling him low. To be fair that was my original pro comp for Flagg. As the season went on I changed my comp to Grant Hill. I think Flagg is a bit more talented offensively than Ak47.

Maybe the NBA players just want to see more once he gets in the league.

AK47 is a lazy comp but remember AK47 was a Top 10-15 player in the NBA at his Peak. Injuries cut off the Top 25% of his career.

[The Master]

Saying he's a tier ahead of an arguably top 5 player in the world is wild to me.

I don't like these comparisons of prospects vs prospects AND actual NBA players, but the thing is: Flagg is clearly a better prospect than Tatum was at the same university while being almost a year younger (and I'd say Tatum had better supporting cast, he wasn't even a 1st option on offense that year). Second, it is very likely for Flagg to be better than Tatum in several areas (playmaking, defense) even considering actual impact of Tatum in the NBA. It's hard to tell how exactly Flagg will scale as a scorer though, his projection is extremely high (three-level scorer, great shooting splits for his age, great upside as a slasher), but it is always an unknown - but it is a realistic prediction to say that Flagg will be a better NBA player. Far from given, but he's good enough to say it's realistic.

Maybe the NBA players just want to see more once he gets in the league.

I guess it's all about dynamics. I remember Zion being below Barrett before NCAA season as a HS prospect, but you knew he's a freak after some preseason games against random Canadian (?) teams. Flagg was very good in his first 10-12 games, you saw potential, but he was struggling as a scorer and shooter. Then, he went into this stratosphere of 20-7-4 highly efficient two way player flirting with 50-40-90 splits, but for those watching NCAA rarely, perhaps wow factor was smaller.

AK47 is a lazy comp but remember AK47 was a Top 10-15 player in the NBA at his Peak. Injuries cut off the Top 25% of his career.

AK47 was a legit comp perhaps based on U17 WCH, he actually looked like Kirilenko there - now he's anchoring the best offense in the NCAA, so it doesn't even make sense to bring that up anymore.

[Bernman]

Tatum is what, a top 5 to 10 player in the world?

I mean come on.

I know hyping a player is fun, but I will be extremely happy as a Flagg fan if he can have a career similar to Tatum.

Saying he's a tier ahead of an arguably top 5 player in the world is wild to me.

What if Flagg doesn't take on a secondary role in his only championship (thus far) and then doesn't get benched by the US national team? That leaves plenty of room for improvement on impact.

I think Tatum is a reasonable over-under, though Flagg is way ahead of where Jayson was at the same point, thus maybe the tier above projection from some. Development isn't linear however.

[Rainwater]

I love Flagg, but don't get crazy.

It'd be amazing if he could get to Tatum's level.

He'll be way better. A full tier higher than Tatum.

I think cooper might be better Tatum. Cooper has shown the ability to create for others where Tatum still hasn’t done so yet. And Cooper’s defense might be better.

[TheProfessor]

Tatum is what, a top 5 to 10 player in the world?

I mean come on.

I know hyping a player is fun, but I will be extremely happy as a Flagg fan if he can have a career similar to Tatum.

Saying he's a tier ahead of an arguably top 5 player in the world is wild to me.

What if Flagg doesn't take on a secondary role in his only championship (thus far) and then doesn't get benched by the US national team? That leaves plenty of room for improvement on impact.

I think Tatum is a reasonable over-under, though Flagg is way ahead of where Jayson was at the same point, thus maybe the tier above projection from some. Development isn't linear however.

But Tatum isn't Tatum because of who he was as a prospect. Tatum became Tatum in the NBA, I don't think the wildest scout predicted Tatum would have been this good. To say that he is a better prospect than Tatum (Which is a 100% true) is different than saying he will be a better player than Tatum. Love Flagg, but the hype is getting wild. Tatum put in the work to be this good, and has had a very surprising trajectory. Remains to be seen if Flagg can too. Not saying that Flagg cannot, but the expectation is absurd. I think comfortably your looking at a JJJ, Mobley level player with the hope he can be a Tatum level player. Anything above that is Gravy.

Also, considering next year's draft, Flagg might find it hard to be a top-five player. AJ is a monster, and the others aren't slouches either.

[Special_Puppy]

Cooper Flagg has the shooting of Dirk, the passing of Steve Nash, the strength of Jokic, the court vision of Luka, and the defense of Chet Holgrem

[reload141]

I love Flagg, but don't get crazy.

It'd be amazing if he could get to Tatum's level.

He'll be way better. A full tier higher than Tatum.

Pretty big call here… comparing someone who hasn’t entered the league to an 1st All-NBA 1st teamer and saying he’s going to be better….

But if he is, then the Tatum and Flagg duo is going to be awesome for the Celtics

[165bows]

Tatum is what, a top 5 to 10 player in the world?

I mean come on.

I know hyping a player is fun, but I will be extremely happy as a Flagg fan if he can have a career similar to Tatum.

Saying he's a tier ahead of an arguably top 5 player in the world is wild to me.

Flagg is def outperforming Tatum at a younger age as a college prospect by a considerable margin. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.

Tatum has also been an elite level guy at improving his skill over his career though Flagg’s intangibles look like they have solid potential as well.

[azcatz11]

I think I agree with JustBuzzin. If he drops the t shirt and transitions to something better he would get more hype

[165bows]

I love Flagg, but don't get crazy.

It'd be amazing if he could get to Tatum's level.

He'll be way better. A full tier higher than Tatum.

I think cooper might be better Tatum. Cooper has shown the ability to create for others where Tatum still hasn’t down so yet. And Cooper’s defense might be better.

Tatum’s third in assists among non guards behind jokic and lebron

[The Master]

Also, considering next year's draft, Flagg might find it hard to be a top-five player. AJ is a monster, and the others aren't slouches either.

The scariest part about Flagg is that if he hadn't reclassified, he would've been even better on collegiate level than he's now and no one would've even noticed as he's just a month older than Dybantsa or Peterson. And he's right now POTY-level player anchoring the best team and offense in the NCAA. I don't know what kind of class it would have to be for Flagg not to be in the top 5. Flagg is younger than prominent players from HS like Dwight, Garnett and a week older than LeBron, that's probably the most insane part of this season.

[Tomtolbert]

Cooper Flagg has the shooting of Dirk, the passing of Steve Nash, the strength of Jokic, the court vision of Luka, and the defense of Chet Holgrem

And a scrappy gym rat like so many others.

[wegotthabeet]

I love Flagg, but don't get crazy.

It'd be amazing if he could get to Tatum's level.

He'll be way better. A full tier higher than Tatum.

Pretty big call here… comparing someone who hasn’t entered the league to an 1st All-NBA 1st teamer and saying he’s going to be better….

But if he is, then the Tatum and Flagg duo is going to be awesome for the Celtics

Admittedly the unquantifiable traits like motor and killer instinct is where I see the difference between the two.

Maybe I'll be wrong, but I think this kid's a future superstar, top 5 player in his own right. He can take over whenever he wants at barely 18. He should be a high school senior, but is clearly the best player in college. He is him. I have no doubt.

[tsherkin]

He'll be way better. A full tier higher than Tatum.

Pretty big call here… comparing someone who hasn’t entered the league to an 1st All-NBA 1st teamer and saying he’s going to be better….

But if he is, then the Tatum and Flagg duo is going to be awesome for the Celtics

Admittedly the unquantifiable traits like motor and killer instinct is where I see the difference between the two.

Maybe I'll be wrong, but I think this kid's a future superstar, top 5 player in his own right. He can take over whenever he wants at barely 18. He should be a high school senior, but is clearly the best player in college. He is him. I have no doubt.

It would be pretty epic if he produced as much value as Tatum. And if he gets even better, that's a particularly high-end player. The tier above Tatum is superstar territory.

[Homerclease]

Tatum is what, a top 5 to 10 player in the world?

I mean come on.

I know hyping a player is fun, but I will be extremely happy as a Flagg fan if he can have a career similar to Tatum.

Saying he's a tier ahead of an arguably top 5 player in the world is wild to me.

Flagg is def outperforming Tatum at a younger age as a college prospect by a considerable margin. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.

Tatum has also been an elite level guy at improving his skill over his career though Flagg’s intangibles look like they have solid potential as well.

Tatum was also third fiddle on his team to Grayson Allen and Luke Kennard launching shots whenever they touched the ball

[MrBigShot]

Kid seems like a sure-fire future all star. Great feel for the game and physical tools.

[LakerLegend]

Also, considering next year's draft, Flagg might find it hard to be a top-five player. AJ is a monster, and the others aren't slouches either.

The scariest part about Flagg is that if he hadn't reclassified, he would've been even better on collegiate level than he's now and no one would've even noticed as he's just a month older than Dybantsa or Peterson. And he's right now POTY-level player anchoring the best team and offense in the NCAA. I don't know what kind of class it would have to be for Flagg not to be in the top 5. Flagg is younger than prominent players from HS like Dwight, Garnett and a week older than LeBron, that's probably the most insane part of this season.

Not younger than Kobe was though