The 2025 NBA Draft is nearing, and TMZ caught up with 2004 No. 1 overall pick Dwight Howard to get his advice for Cooper Flagg, a projected No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.
Howard offered pointed insight for the top prospect, as many experts, including basketball Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony, have discussed Flagg’s lofty potential. Howard was asked what he thought of Anthony’s take.
Dwight Howard Speaks Out About Cooper Flagg Ahead of 2025 NBA Draft
Howard advised Flagg to enjoy basketball and not get swayed by off-court distractions that could dampen his passion: “Just go hoop, enjoy the games, and don’t let the politics take away from the passion,” Howard said.
Flagg enters the 2025 NBA Draft with comparisons to iconic players. One expert dubbed him the next Kevin Garnett, while others see Flagg as a “mixture of Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo.” These are lofty comparisons, and it’s a lot of pressure for any prospect — no matter how grounded — to make an immediate impact.
Earlier, Anthony — another former top prospect who went on to have a lengthy NBA career — praised Flagg’s well-roundedness. “Coop is nice,” he said. “I’m pretty high on his game. To me, he doesn’t do anything great, but a lot of s**t really good.”
When asked about Anthony’s opinion, Howard offered his own advice. “Everybody’s going to have an opinion on a player,” he said. “Obviously, he hasn’t even made it to the NBA yet. If he’s already good at a lot of things now, he has a chance to master these things by the time he gets older.” Howard also emphasized Flagg’s youth, saying, “You got a lot of time to grow.”
Carmelo Anthony on Cooper Flagg:
“Coop is nice. We haven’t seen in a while somebody dominate… I’m pretty high on his game… To me, he doesn’t do anything great. He just does a lot of s*** really good…”
(via @PodcastPShow)
— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) May 27, 2025
Anthony also highlighted Flagg’s ability as a weakside defender, praising his instincts in the passing lanes and his shot-blocking. However, he stressed that Flagg needs to develop a “skill set,” or as Anthony put it, a “go-to,” to compete with the NBA’s best in clutch moments.
This is sound advice and shouldn’t be seen as criticism. For example, Anthony’s patented jab-step jumper was his go-to. If Flagg can develop his own signature move, as Anthony suggests, it could elevate his game further.
Statistically, Flagg finished the year at Duke with some stunning performances during the NCAA Tournament. He carried the team in a win over fourth-seeded Arizona with 30 points, seven assists, and three blocks.
Even in
Duke’s loss to Houston in the NCAA championship game, he stood out with 27 points on 75% three-point shooting and three blocks.
Overall, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game for the Blue Devils last season. He also proved to be an outstanding defender.
Howard’s overall message to Flagg was one of patience. He won’t be a finished product as an 18-year-old rookie, and he’ll have years to refine the skills he already shows promise in.
Flagg has shown that he has unbelievable potential. Now, the next step for him is to stay patient and work hard to master his skillset, as Howard puts it.
