Magic Johnson backs Mavericks’ No.1 pick hype as Cooper Flagg draws comparisons with NBA greats
The NBA Draft 2025 will take center stage once the Finals wrap up next week. Hype is growing as top college talents prepare to enter the NBA Draft. The draft event will be taking place in Brooklyn on June 25th.
Duke Blue Devils’ Cooper Flagg is one such talent, widely expected to have a high ceiling in the pros. The Dallas Mavericks are projected to pick the 18-year-old with their number one lottery pick later this month.
NBA legend Magic Johnson was full of praise for Flagg. He suggested that the West will have to watch out as Mavericks are poised to get stronger. They not only have a likely Cooper Flagg pick but also few veteran stars that are going to come stronger from the off season.
Magic Johnson said, “Listen. I’m gonna tell you something, If that boy, Cooper Flagg, is who we think he is, and I think he’s going to be a better pro than he was in college. If you put him and Klay Thompson and those two centers they have, and Jason Kidd has them running, and Kyrie’s at his best and healthy? Watch out, West. Watch out.”
Former NBA All-Star Baron Davis has compared Cooper Flagg to Utah Jazz legend Andrei Kirilenko. He also dubbed the 18-year-old a “Swiss knife” for his versatility. Flagg’s versatility on both ends of the court is out made him such a threat in the NCAA.
He can contribute offensively and defensively filling up multiple roles whenever the team requires. Cooper Flagg impressed offensively, averaging 19.2 points per game at Duke. He can also develop his defensive abilities as his size could cause trouble for opponents in the paint.
Andrei Kirilenko who played for the Utah Jazz for a decade also had the same build, and two way capabilities. Baron Davis urged the Mavericks to use Flagg the way the Jazz utilized Kirilenko to unlock his full potential.
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