After a skirmish with a LeBron James-led Team USA, emerging star Cooper Flagg captured the attention of everyone by holding his own against the best NBA players. Turns out, NBA executives are excited to see him turn pro when he potentially declares for the draft next year.
Flagg, the highly touted 17-year-old basketball prospect, recently had the opportunity to play against LeBron James and the U.S. national team in a scrimmage. Flagg, who is projected to be the top pick in the 2025 NBA draft, admitted that he was initially nervous when faced with the challenge of guarding his idol, LeBron.
“The first day, for sure, I was nervous. I didn’t know what to think. I got on the court, and I was like, ‘Wow.’ I was guarding LeBron in the corner. It kind of just hit me for a second, and I had to snap out of it,” Flagg said in an interview.
However, Flagg quickly settled in and made an impression, including hitting a three-pointer over Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis. He credits his ability to perform at a high level once the game started, as “most of the players that can really perform at a high level, once the tip goes up, it all goes away, for sure.”
Flagg, who will join the Duke Blue Devils this season, has been generating significant buzz as a potential superstar in the making. His performance against Team USA has only added to the hype surrounding the young phenom.
Potential Top 2025 Draft Pick Cooper Flagg Receives Ultimate Praise From Unnamed NBA Executive
Even as early as now, Flagg has been getting a lot of raves from basketball fans. According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo, NBA executives have voted the young star as next year’s top draft pick, with one of them giving him the ultimate praise.
“”I haven’t studied this class deeply enough yet and I’m sure our boards will all change, but from what I saw at Hoop Summit and in Vegas with USA Basketball, good luck catching that guy,” one voter said. “[Flagg] could start for our team tonight and make a huge impact with his toughness, feel and instincts on both ends. His shooting looks good also.”
Flagg, the top 2025 NBA draft prospect, impressed in scrimmages against Team USA. His performance has solidified his status as the likely top pick, as he continues to develop his versatile game at Duke. The 2025 draft class is shaping up to be strong with the Blue Devils star leading the pack.
Thanks to his impressive showing against Team USA, Flagg’s stock has exponentially risen for next year. When that time comes, expect a lot of NBA teams to choose him as the top pick of his class.
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