Par Guillaume Kagni | Journaliste sportif
In less than a month from now, Cooper Flagg will officially be the first pick in the draft and therefore an NBA player. But what can we expect from him? While most expect great things, some don’t necessarily see any reason to get excited about him.
Last season, the suspense was immense in the run-up to the draft, as no one could predict the identity of the player selected by the Hawks with the first pick. Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr were the two most credible candidates, but a Reed Sheppard was also the talk of the town in the weeks leading up to the evening.
This year, however, everything is crystal clear. Presented as a generational talent, in the image of Victor Wembanyama in 2023, Cooper Flagg will be the first name called by Adam Silver on the Barclays Center stage. Barring a huge turnaround and an XXL swap, he is expected to settle in Dallas and take over from Luka Doncic in the hearts of the fans.
Cooper Flagg compared to Detlef Schrempf
But what can we expect from Anthony Davis’ partner? Will he have room to express himself freely? Will he live up to the expectations that have surrounded him since he was a teenager? Speaking on Bill Simmons’ podcast, best-selling author Chuck Klosterman was rather pessimistic. He may watch the games, but he doesn’t see “superstar” written on the front of the “Maine Event” :
My bold prediction on Cooper Flagg is that he’s going to have a Detlef Schrempf career. I think he’s going to be a very good player, over many years. Schrempf was All-NBA and All-Star several times. But I don’t see Cooper Flagg as a dominant player. I think he’s going to be the second option on a good team, or the third option on a great team. I haven’t seen anything that makes me say he’s going to be unstoppable.
In the opinion of all the experts, what sets Cooper Flagg apart from many players is his desire to crush everyone else and become a legend. He’s even been compared to Kevin Garnett for this madness. It’s not as obvious every game as a big dunk or contested shot, but it’s an important variable. Besides, why worry when he was dominating Team USA at just 17?
17-year-old Cooper Flagg vs Anthony Davis during a 2024 Team USA scrimmage pic.twitter.com/4g6gOY9fE8
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 15, 2025