Incoming Duke freshman Cooper Flagg recently made some noise in Las Vegas as a member of the Olympic Select Team. Squaring off against Team USA and standing out as the only non-NBA player on the court in a scrimmage that turned plenty of heads when footage of Flagg’s performance surfaced on social media.
From three-point shots off the dribble with Anthony Davis guarding him, to put-back and-one buckets at the rim, Flagg was seemingly doing it all against the NBA’s top players. A roster that consisted of several former league MVPs, NBA Champions, and some of the greatest players of all time.
One of those players is Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, who sent glowing praise in the direction of Flagg following his strong showing in Vegas.
“I wish I would’ve went against him in practice,” Durant said. “But from watching him on the sideline he looked like a hell of a player. Somebody that’s just only going to get better with more experience.”
“17 years old, coming in here playing like he’s a vet almost. No emotion. Just going out there and doing his job and that’s a good sign.”
Flagg seems to be living up to the hype already before playing a possession of college basketball after earning the respect of one of the game’s most prolific scorers. Who was also a five-star prospect and the No. 1 player in the country for his respective high school recruiting class. As Flagg will enter his freshman season at Duke with sky-high expectations and a high likelihood of a top pick in next year’s NBA Draft as well.
ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg reacted to Durant’s comments on Flagg during Thursday morning’s episode of ESPN’s Get Up.
“I mean that is a bad dude, he’s a generational talent,” Greenberg said agreeing with Durant. “6’9, seven-foot wingspan, three-level scorer, can play in the post with great footwork, shoots the three, did a great job of attacking mismatches. Next year America, you’re looking at Cooper Flagg, you’re gonna listen and see him every single night on SportsCenter, on Get Up, on First Take. The dude is a generational talent.”
Just like Zion Williamson, J.J. Redick, Christian Laettner, and several others before and in between them, Flagg will be looked upon as the next iconic figure to suit up in a Duke uniform this upcoming season. Already adding to his lore in a strong way in the summer before his first collegiate season.
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