Former Boston Celtics champion doesn't believe in Cooper Flagg hype
There are talented players as part of the 2025 NBA Draft, but as expected, Cooper Flagg continues be the consensus No. 1 pick. So when the Mavericks improbably won the draft lottery for a chance to select Flagg, heads turned after they had just traded Luka Doncic. Dallas gets a chance at another potential franchise-changing player.
But former Celtics champion Tony Allen disagrees — he doesn't see the Flagg hype. In an appearance on the Chris Vernon show, Allen revealed his thoughts on the Duke product.
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'I don't think Cooper Flagg is going to turn your franchise around like that,' Allen said. 'And I'm serious. He's nice. I ain't seeing (Kevin Durant). I'm just not seeing all that. I'm seeing Andrei Kirilenko. That's what I'm seeing, and he can hoop.'
Now, there's good reason why Flagg projects so well at the next level. The 18-year-old won a majority of National Player of the Year awards after a stellar season leading Duke to the Final Four. Considering he's still a teenager and dominated the college ranks, where players are increasingly older, is also a positive sign.
Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in his 37 games for the Blue Devils. He also projects well defensively at 6-foot-9 as he still has a lot of growing to do since he's so young. While Flagg isn't as hyped a prospect like the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, there's a reason why NBA teams rate Flagg so highly.
But Allen disagrees. The former C's guard won it all with the team in 2008 as he was one of the best defenders of his time. Allen was named NBA All-Defensive team six times in his career and played 14 years in the league.
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Now, no disrespect to Kirilenko, who enjoyed a long 13-year NBA career himself. Kirilenko was an All-Star in 2004 and was named to three All-Defensive teams. Allen's point is that he doesn't see Flagg as a Durant-level player, but more a longtime pro who could make an All-Star team or two in his career.
So Allen is not saying Flagg will be a complete bust, but that he won't change a franchise and live up to the hype. Flagg looks the part of big-time NBA player, but he'll have to prove it after he gets drafted next month.
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