Cooper Flagg is expected to be the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft this April. And in the Duke Standout's first bout against their bitter rival, the UNC Tar Heels, Flagg proved that he is indeed the real deal.
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In the first five minutes of the contest, Flagg went off against the Tar Heels, accruing 9 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals.
After an unreal first half by the projected top pick, fans erupted on social media.
"Admittedly this is the first time I've watched Cooper Flagg all season but got damn, kid can hoop," one fan said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Cooper Flagg is on demon time tonight good lord," another person said.
Cooper Flagg puts the finishing touches on a dominant half for Duke as the Blue Devils take a 47-25 lead over UNC at the break. pic.twitter.com/4TJk0Xm144
— Heat Check CBB (@HeatCheckCBB) February 2, 2025
LeBron Sounds Off About Cooper Flagg
Flagg is perhaps the most touted prospect out of Duke since New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson. With a nearly seven-foot wingspan, Flagg is as athletic as they come. He can dominate on the defensive side of the ball, rule the paint, and is an above-average jump shooter, really the total package as far as big men are concerned.
With Flagg going from being one of the most highly-recruited high school prospects, to now a projected top pick in the NBA draft, he is already starting to draw the ire of some of the biggest names in the league. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James believes that Flagg can be one of the next big names to carry Team USA in the next Olympics.
"It's all about the farm system and continuing to grow the younger generation. And we have so much great talent right now in our league as well. You have Anthony Edwards and Jayson Tatum," James said.
"You have Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren, these young guys coming up in the ranks; Cooper Flagg, who's going to be a big-time player here for Team USA down the road. So yeah, absolutely. There's a lot of great young talent that's going to want to strive to be an Olympian."
