Cooper Flagg excelled in his first season with the Duke Blue Devils. That’s why, after watching him dominate at Durham, he reaffirmed his strong case as the first-overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Unlike most modern-day prospects, Flagg plays hard on both ends of the floor. He’s not just an offensive-minded player, and he actually takes pride in getting stops.
That’s why NBA analyst Tim Legler believes the Dallas Mavericks could be getting the next two-way superstar, as he thinks he has the potential to be an Amen Thompson-type defender.
Cooper Flagg draws Amen Thompson comparison
“Starting like year two, I think he can be in that same category as Amen Thompson in terms of a guy that’s potentially an all-league defender,” Legler said. “Like pretty quickly, he’ll get there.”
The Thompson twins haven’t been in the league for long, but they’re already two of the most respected stoppers in the league. They can guard multiple spots, swat shots, and be deadly in passing lanes.
Flagg is big enough to hold his own against both forward spots and even some big men. And if he maintains his strong defensive commitment in the pros, it won’t be long before he becomes a perennial All-Defensive candidate.