Cooper Flagg was the No. 1 recruit within the 2024 highschool class and is the presumed No. 1 total decide within the 2025 NBA Draft, and he’ll convey a ton of consideration again to varsity basketball this season with the Duke Blue Devils.
One former NBA All-Star, particularly, has been the commonest comparability for Flagg as far as followers and analysts proceed to get extra acquainted with his recreation. The extra you watch him, the extra you see the flashes that convey again recollections of former Utah Jazz star Andrei Kirilenko.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto shared that a number of NBA scouts have been evaluating Flagg to the retired All-Star.
“Flagg is like Kirilenko, he’s very impactful defensively, can guard multiple positions, and is a great weak-side shot blocker,” one scout mentioned, by way of Basketball on X.
A number of NBA scouts examine Cooper Flagg to former All-Star Andrei Kirilenko; per @MikeAScotto
“Flagg is like Kirilenko, he’s very impactful defensively, can guard a number of positions, and is a good weak-side shot blocker.”
“Flagg reminds me of Kirilenko,” one other NBA scout… pic.twitter.com/9eIvqPBxi3
— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BASKETBALLonX) July 31, 2024
One other scout mentioned, “Flagg has a quick first step and is an aggressive finisher around the basket. He doesn’t create much off the dribble offensively but creates more offense with his defense than anyone in the country.”
Kirilenko has been the commonest comparability for Flagg, who’s an analogous measurement and has explosiveness and defensive versatility, which makes it a straightforward equal.
Flagg is believed to have a better offensive ceiling than Kirlienko, as AK-47 averaged simply 11.8 factors per recreation in his 13-season NBA profession and topped out at 16.5 factors per recreation within the 2003-04 marketing campaign.
It will likely be enjoyable to have a phenom like Flagg in school basketball this season earlier than he seemingly arrives within the NBA.
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