Incoming Duke freshman Cooper Flagg is already making a name for himself long before he’s played a single second in the NCAA. On Monday, he signed an endorsement deal with sneaker and sports apparel company New Balance, becoming the latest standout to join the brand’s burgeoning roster of basketball stars led by Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray, and Tyrese Maxey.
After his eye-popping performances for the United States Select Team, which competed against the stacked Team USA in preparation for the Paris Olympics, experts and players are joining the discussion regarding Flagg’s immense potential. The latest player to share his two cents is All-Star wingman Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers.
In an episode of his podcast, PG commented how Cooper’s skill set reminds him of former NBA player Michael Beasley .
A well-rounded prospect
PG admitted that he hasn’t seen Cooper play in person yet but has witnessed his highlight reels. When comparing Flagg to someone else, George said Beasley almost instantly comes to mind.
“He's nice, like when you talk about a well-rounded player, like, I don't know—he kind of got a little, like, Michael Beasley. At that size, he can score, can playmake, and is super talented, just a game changer,” PG shared .
The 17-year-old completed an outstanding senior season for Montverde Academy, averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks. He later earned numerous awards, including the Gatorade National Player of the Year, Mr. Basketball USA, and Naismith Prep Player of the Year. More than anything, he led his school to a perfect 34-0 record and the national title.
Meanwhile, B-Easy was the second-overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft, behind top pick Derrick Rose. He was a beast for Kansas State in the NCAA, averaging 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds in his lone season there. Unfortunately, he couldn’t carry his collegiate success over to the pros. He played 11 seasons in the league, suiting up for seven teams before playing his last NBA game in 2019 at the age of 30. He now plays in Ice Cube’s BIG3 league, where he was recently named the MVP.
“I don't think people speak enough about how good Michael Beasley was or is. You know, I still see clips to this day of him just doing crazy sh** online, and this mother*****r is still hooping,” PG surmised.
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He’s going to be elite
On the same podcast, Sixers rookie Jared McCain said he isn’t keen on putting high expectations on players, especially a youngster like Flagg. However, he went on a limb and projected the forward would be elite at the next level.
“Well, first, I don't want to—I hate putting expectations on players, like where they got to live up to this player. So that's one. But then also, like, he can do everything,” the 6-foot-2 point guard out of Duke quipped.
Jared said he was in school when Cooper made his official visit to Duke and saw how skilled Flagg was on both ends.
“Like I said, he plays hard on defense—elite defensively, just in itself. And then, obviously, he makes shots. He always does this in practice—he pump fakes, throws off the backboard, and then dunks it. Just simple things like that,” McCain added.
Cooper is projected to be basketball’s next big thing, especially after playing like he belonged with the NBA’s best, including Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant. However, it’s crucial to note that despite all his talent, he remains a young man still looking to come into his own, both in life and basketball, and fans should give him time to develop.
Related: Carmelo Anthony talks about the potential Cooper Flagg has: "He is not there yet"
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