Are people lower on Cooper Flagg?

[FrodoBaggins]

Not much to talk about recently with two mediocre games. Tonight's performance is worth talking about, though: 13 points (5/11 FG), 7 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover. By far his best playmaking game to date.

[DaGawd]

he might be a multi time all star in his career but he doesn’t look like the generational talent he was thought of rn

[Mephariel]

he might be a multi time all star in his career but he doesn’t look like the generational talent he was thought of rn

I think it is fair to say, if you are going to label a player as generational, you got to be able to say what is generational about him. The problem with Flagg is that throughout his college career, nobody could really explain what makes him generational. With Lebron and Wemby for example, it was the size and out-worldly athleticism. What was it about Flagg that points to generational greatness?

[Sign5]

Yep flagg is and will be superb but definitely not generational. He looks just about similar to his very first ever nba comparison which is AK47. Im seeing Jimmy Butler too.

So a Andrei/Jimmy Butler hybrid is a phenomenal player, perennial allstar to potentially a couple years as a top 5 mvp candidate but generational? No not quite unfortunately.

AD himself was considered a generational talent and he himself never won an MVP (of course injuries being at play but still).

Too many people were ranking him in the Lebron, Wemby, Kareem, Shaq prospect-tier and I just didn't see what would translate to being so otherworldly. So much so that you had folks insisting he'd dominate ala top 20 ATGs and another dude who is a lock if the basketball gods minimize his career injuries.

[KokoKaizer]

Let the guy grow.

He's what ? 19 ?

His team is dysfunctional, the coach is meh

I'll give him time

[FrodoBaggins]

Yep flagg is and will be superb but definitely not generational. He looks just about similar to his very first ever nba comparison which is AK47. Im seeing Jimmy Butler too.

So a Andrei/Jimmy Butler hybrid is a phenomenal player, perennial allstar to potentially a couple years as a top 5 mvp candidate but generational? No not quite unfortunately.

AD himself was considered a generational talent and he himself never won an MVP (of course injuries being at play but still).

Too many people were ranking him in the Lebron, Wemby, Kareem, Shaq prospect-tier and I just didn't see what would translate to being so otherworldly. So much so that you had folks insisting he'd dominate ala top 20 ATGs and another dude who is a lock if the basketball gods minimize his career injuries.

The problem with the Kirilenko comp is that Andrei was a legitimate 6'9" barefoot with a 7-foot-6 wingspan (229cm per CSKA Moscow) and a standing reach somewhere in the 9'1" to 9'4" range. Those are Anthony Davis, Jaren Jackson Jr., Dwight Howard kind of numbers. Cooper's measurables (6'7.75" without shoes, 7'0" wingspan, 8'10.5" standing reach) align more with Josh Smith, LeBron James, Jalen Johnson, Jayson Tatum, and Paul George.

Play style? Maybe, but Cooper's shown way more on-ball than AK47 ever did. The comparison died after what Flagg did at Duke.

To be fair, the Kirilenko/Butler hybrid comp does work if you mix & match the right qualities. So I get that. But I'd be hesitant to put a cap on Flagg's offensive ceiling this early.

[bonita_the_frog]

Cooper Flagg with 13 points, 5-11 field, 11 assists, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 turnover today vs. Lakers.
Prime Flagg will have the same stats as Prime LeBron, or better than LeBron, because Flagg has greater rebounding and defense potential.
Flagg will average 25+ppg 10rpg 7apg in my estimation, and his scoring is the most unpredictable, because even without a jump shot he can get you over 20ppg, but with a consistent jump shot he could score as much as 30ppg.

[Hornet Mania]

Let the guy grow.

He's what ? 19 ?

His team is dysfunctional, the coach is meh

I'll give him time

There was a thread on here back in the day comparing rookie KD to Jamal Crawford. People unfortunately have knee jerk reactions if S-tier prospects don't immediately dominate.

[Mirotic12]

If Flagg was a Fr in college right now (as he should be given his age) he’d be averaging like 28/15/7. Way better than Cam Boozer for instance.

No one would average those numbers at Duke.

[Capn'O]

he might be a multi time all star in his career but he doesn’t look like the generational talent he was thought of rn

I think it is fair to say, if you are going to label a player as generational, you got to be able to say what is generational about him. The problem with Flagg is that throughout his college career, nobody could really explain what makes him generational. With Lebron and Wemby for example, it was the size and out-worldly athleticism. What was it about Flagg that points to generational greatness?

He's more a top end jack of all trades like Cade or SGA. Not a transcendent athlete.

[Ritzo]

I think he has the same or higher ceiling than guys like Jayson Tatum, a top 5 player in the league. Even their rookie season looks similar, except the 3-point percentage.

[FrodoBaggins]

New career-high points scored in a game for Coop. You want to see more games like this where he's got the green light. Longer leash.

- 38 minutes played
- 35 points (13-22 FG, 0-3 3PT, 9-11 FT), 8 rebounds (1 off), 2 assists, 3 turnovers

[FrodoBaggins]

The NBA Japan YouTube channel coming in clutch as usual.

Watch on YouTube

[Pelly24]

He averaging like 20/8/4 on very good efficiency his last 10 games. He spent however many of the first 10 or so games, maybe more, playing point. And that’s without like, a good point guard. Out of position, 18 years old, … averaging 16.8 ppg so far. Subpar efficiency but massively. More jumpers will fall soon. He’s going to be a great great player. I think it just depends on what you mean by “generational player.” I see his ceiling as a lengthier jimmy butler. Maybe he reaches it maybe he doesn’t. But no one should be disappointed.

[FrodoBaggins]

His mid-range game was on fire tonight. You see why Kawhi comps were made on that front. Not really Tatum or Pippen's game. Also, shades of a more aggressive playoff Jimmy Butler hitting the short mid-range, slashing off two feet, and getting to the line.

[Domejandro]

Let the guy grow.

He's what ? 19 ?

His team is dysfunctional, the coach is meh

I'll give him time

What people don't appreciate is that Cooper Flagg is eighteen for another three weeks. Being that young on a team where he has to create offense almost entirely for himself (and for others!) is extraordinarily tough, but he is still doing a solid job at it.

[Black Jack]

He's an elite prospect, already putting numbers up pretty young. I think he'll have an SGA type arc where he just keeps getting better and peaks at MVP level. Maybe a 1-2 time MVP winner with really great numbers. Will be capable of leading a team to a ring as #1 player.

Not a GOAT candidate or "generational" where he has athleticism to blow guys off the court like LeBron or Wemby type prospects, which are silly terms everybody tries to throw around to put pressure on these guys.

That's what I've seen so far.

[KokoKaizer]

Let the guy grow.

He's what ? 19 ?

His team is dysfunctional, the coach is meh

I'll give him time

What people don't appreciate is that Cooper Flagg is eighteen for another three weeks. Being that young on a team where he has to create offense almost entirely for himself (and for others!) is extraordinarily tough, but he is still doing a solid job at it.

Well said sir !

Great game by Cooper and more important, the win^^

[ArksNetsSince99]

Coops situation reminds me of Cade's. Drafted to a team with many problems that wasn't built around him yet, while the other players drafted around him have better starts to their career.

After a while this Kyrie/AD stuff will end, and they'll be able to start building something around Coop. Also, he's 18, his window for improvement is vast. I think in 2-3 years Coop will be an all star.

Coop is not anywhere of Cade territory, never will be as well

[Johnny Firpo]

he might be a multi time all star in his career but he doesn’t look like the generational talent he was thought of rn

I think he does look like a generational talent, and I'm not saying this because of the 35 point game. Coop has always been someone who was part of the system, and pretty much had a role player mentality, which sounds bad, but it's actually great. He developed everything else while his physical traits improved further, and now he has an elite package in terms of size, athleticism and b-ball IQ. He also developed his scoring mindset, doesn't fear anyone, and has one of the best work ethics I'v ever seen in a young kid. Worst case scenario is Tatum imo. That's his floor, so a top 5-6 player (if he stays healthy). I also think it's fairly obvious that he is going to be at that level too. He does everything well (will obviously be a good shooter, his mechanics are great, he is a great free throw shooter too).