Paul George Doesn't Hold Back About Duke's Cooper Flagg Before NBA Draft
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The 2025 NBA Draft is right around the corner. While the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder are set to begin on Thursday, the draft is coming up quickly and will be held on June 25. Duke star Cooper Flagg is ready to be the No. 1 overall pick and get his career underway.
Flagg has been the projected No. 1 pick for at least a year now. He did not disappoint the hype in his freshman season with the Blue Devils.
In the 2025 NBA Draft lottery, the Dallas Mavericks made the shocking leap up to the No. 1 overall pick. They had a 1.8 percent chance of doing so in the lottery, but Nico Harrison was given a major gift and stroke of luck after trading away Luka Doncic last season.
Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils dribbles up court during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 4, 2024 in Durham, North Carolina.
Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils dribbles up court during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 4, 2024 in Durham, North Carolina.
Photo byWith the draft coming up quickly, a lot of opinions have been given about Flagg's future in the league. Most recently, Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George spoke out with a strong opinion about the Duke standout.
Read more: Lakers' LeBron James Set to Make Major NBA History Next Season
On a recent episode of his show, "Podcast P," George did not hold back from predicting a very bright future for the young forward.
"I think he's going to be an All-Star. When it's all said and done, I think he's going to go down as one of the best players our league has seen," George said. "He's got that talent."
During the 2024-25 college basketball season with the Blue Devils, Flagg put together big numbers. He played in 37 games, averaging 19.2 points per game to go along with 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals. In addition, he shot 48.1 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from the three-point line.
What kind of player could Flagg become at the NBA level? There have been many comparisons made for him.
ESPN has shared what they think the "ceiling comp" could be for Flagg. They have that comparison listed as Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard. One Western Conference scout spoke out on the potential comparison.
Read more: Knicks Urged to Pursue Shocking Offseason Roster Move
"[Flagg]'s really good defensively and can be a game changer on that end pretty much immediately with his size, effort and IQ," the scout said. "He's always been a very good defender and the offense is coming along. It's a very similar path to the one Kawhi was on early in his NBA career, as a guy who had all these really useful qualities, and then entered as a real two-way force as he rounded out his game."
Only time will tell the future for Flagg. However, he has elite potential and George clearly believes in him.
Fans won't have to wait much longer to get their first look at the Duke star. It seems likely that the Mavericks will be taking Flagg, which will put him in a great place to get off to a strong start in the NBA.
For more NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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