This year’s NBA Draft class may not have had standout talent, but the upcoming group of young basketball players in America is generating significant buzz. Cooper Flagg stands out as the clear top prospect for next year’s draft. NBA teams at the bottom of the standings might consider tanking their season to secure the 17-year-old talent. Flagg is unanimously projected as the top pick in next year’s draft across all draft boards, with Kevin Durant even suggesting in an interview with Boardroom that Flagg could become a dominant player in the league for the next 15 years.Durant noted Flagg’s intangibles, physical attributes, and natural talent, all of which were evident even through television broadcasts back in February. Recently, Durant and other Team USA players witnessed Flagg’s abilities firsthand as he led his Select Team in a narrow 74-73 scrimmage loss. Ben Golliver of The Washington Post shared clips on X (formerly Twitter) showcasing Flagg’s impressive performance, where the fearless teenager made significant plays. These included draining three-pointers over Anthony Davis, hitting a turnaround jumper against Jrue Holiday, and grabbing an offensive rebound for a putback over Bam Adebayo. Essentially, at just 17 years old, Flagg demonstrated his ability to compete at the highest levels of the league.After the game, Flagg expressed confidence in his abilities and skills, stating, “I’m confident in who I am and what I do,” in a brief interview shared by Golliver. Earlier, Flagg had already garnered attention on Monday when clips from a previous scrimmage against Team USA surfaced online. One notable clip showed the 17-year-old initially blocked by Davis but recovering to pass the ball and execute a backdoor cut for a powerful two-handed dunk.
Flagg, who posted impressive stats of 26.8 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.2 blocks, and 4.7 assists per game in the Nike EYBL 16U league, is set to begin his freshman season at Duke University later this year after moving up a class. He was selected as one of 15 players for the USA Select Team, marking the first time since 2013 that a collegiate player has been chosen.
ESPN’s draft expert Jonathan Givony recently praised Flagg, noting that he excels in all aspects of the game. Givony described him as an explosive athlete, a prolific scorer, significantly improved three-point shooter, excellent passer, and impactful defender known for his relentless intensity both in rim protection and perimeter defense.
