There is no doubt that Cooper Flagg is the most highly touted prospect in college basketball. You have probably heard his name associated with the 2025 No. 1 overall pick since well before his freshman year at Duke.
Across the NBA this season, teams that aren’t playoff-bound have been fighting to rack up as many losses as possible just to have a sliver of a better chance at selecting Flagg in the upcoming draft.
So what is it that makes him so coveted and valuable?
Versatility
Flagg is currently listed at 6-foot-9, weighing in at 205 pounds and with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. With those kinds of measurements it would make sense for him to slot in easily as an NBA power forward. But, Flagg could realistically play at any spot on the court offensively and defensively.
With his soft touch and feel for the ball around the rim, he excels as a cutter, but even when facing bigger players, he is strong going to the rim and isn’t intimidated off his spot. His size gives him an advantage as a wing player, and as a 37.4% 3-point shooter during his freshmen season at Duke he proved that he is an outside threat that can draw multiple defenders.
The gravity he has as an offensive player has also forced him to sometimes act as a playmaker, which he does. Even off rebounds and in transition, he is perfectly comfortable bringing the ball up the court and initiating offense.
He has a quick first step, is explosive when he wants to be, and is a force at every spot on the court. When thinking about unicorn-type players, Flagg fits the mold to a T. He is legitimately capable of playing every position, even at the NBA level.
No possessions off
Call it passion, competitive spirit, grit, force, call it whatever you want. What NBA scouts, coaches and executives like the most about Flagg is that he doesn’t take possessions off.
“He plays with force no matter the situation,” a Western Conference executive told the Deseret News. “It doesn’t matter if it’s on offense, defense, in transition, on the glass … he competes on every single possession.”
It doesn’t mean that Flagg needs the ball all the time. One of the things that is most impressive about Flagg, and has especially stood out during the NCAA Tournament, is that he is keenly aware of when his teammates are the ones that have it going. And in those moments, he doesn’t relax or become invisible.
If anything, when Flagg defers to his teammates, it is even more apparent how much he contributes to every aspect of the game.
“He cares about winning,” an NBA coach said. “It’s not about him, it’s about the sum of the parts. He’s a complete player because of his unselfishness.”
By all accounts, Flagg is just as fiercely competitive on both sides of the ball as well as in games and practices. He pushes his teammates with his level of ...
