Cooper Flagg was the No. 1 recruit in the 2024 high school class and is the presumed No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and he will bring a ton of attention back to college basketball this season with the Duke Blue Devils.
One former NBA All-Star, in particular, has been the most common comparison for Flagg so far as fans and analysts continue to get more familiar with his game. The more you watch him, the more you see the flashes that bring back memories of former Utah Jazz star Andrei Kirilenko.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto shared that multiple NBA scouts have been comparing 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 said, via Basketball on X.
Multiple NBA scouts compare Cooper Flagg to former All-Star Andrei Kirilenko; per @MikeAScotto
“Flagg is like Kirilenko, he’s very impactful defensively, can guard multiple positions, and is a great weak-side shot blocker.”
“Flagg reminds me of Kirilenko,” another NBA scout… pic.twitter.com/9eIvqPBxi3
— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BASKETBALLonX) July 31, 2024
Another scout said, “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 most common comparison for Flagg, who is a similar size and has explosiveness and defensive versatility, which makes it an easy equivalent.
Flagg is thought to have a higher offensive ceiling than Kirlienko, as AK-47 averaged just 11.8 points per game in his 13-season NBA career and topped out at 16.5 points per game in the 2003-04 campaign.
It will be fun to have a phenom like Flagg in college basketball this season before he likely arrives in the NBA.
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