With March Madness currently underway, Cooper Flagg is a major topic of discussion. The superstar from Duke is sitting firmly atop most NBA draft boards as the projected No. 1 pick. With all of the hype surrounding Flagg, it’s not a surprise that comparisons to current NBA stars have already started.
When Flagg first arrived at Duke, there was a feeling that he would grow to become something special. So far, that’s proven to be true, as Flagg has been a pivotal piece for the Blue Devils as they’ve started their journey to a potential NCAA championship.
NBA Scouts Compare Cooper Flagg to Kawhi Leonard
It seems that the NBA scouts and executives have been watching Flagg closely as the draft is slowly approaching. With most NBA scouts, comparisons are key to letting you know what indicators to look for, what stands out about a player, and who their game is modeled after.
According to one scout, there are some similarities in Flagg’s game to Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard. The two-time NBA Champion has a very controlled game, but the scouts can see flashes of Leonard in Flagg.
“The best comp I've heard from our scouts is prime Kawhi Leonard.” 👀
– Western Conference general manager on Cooper Flagg
(Via @DraftExpress ) pic.twitter.com/7Zmy4YFMei
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
While the Kawhi comparison may raise some eyebrows, some context was added from Jonathan Givony of Draft Express, as he referenced what a current GM of a Western Conference feels:
Deep dive on Cooper Flagg today, including a GMs take on his best NBA Comparison.
"Kawhi's D was ahead of his offense. He has a lot of the same manufactured qualities to his handle and shooting…Think about his unwavering confidence and relentless work ethic combined with his… pic.twitter.com/Ok2600IAtb
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress)
“Kawhi’s D was ahead of his offense. He has a lot of the same manufactured qualities to his handle and shooting… Think about his unwavering confidence and relentless work ethic combined with his physicality, IQ, and tools — that’s what helped him become an MVP candidate and the best player on a championship team.”
Kawhi Leonard is a champion, an All-Star, and a DPOY, and he’s one of the best players of the last 20 years. To be compared to someone with that type of resume puts lofty expectations and pressure on Flagg as he enters the league. With all of this mounting pressure and expectation, the question is still, will Flagg enter the draft?
Will Cooper Flagg Enter The NBA Draft?
It is still unknown whether Flagg will declare for the NBA draft, but many experts feel like it will happen. Duke is listed as a favorite to win the NCAA championship in many brackets, so Flagg winning a national title could be the perfect cap to his college career.
Will Flagg declare for the NBA draft? Will he become the No. 1 pick? These are all questions that we’ll have the answer to very soon.
