Stephen A. Smith has one major concern about Cooper Flagg

Cooper Flagg hadn’t even committed to play college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils when multiple scouts had already deemed him a future first overall NBA draft pick.

He entered the season as the most-anticipated and talked-about prospect in the nation, and, more often than not, he proved why everybody was so eager to get him.

However, as big a star as he was during his lone year in Durham, ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith still has some concerns about his clutch gene. Talking on ‘First Take,’ he pointed out that Flagg missed four game-winning shots in one season.

Stephen A. Smith questions Cooper Flagg’s clutch gene

“The only blemish on his career is, there was four times that he had a chance to win a game and he failed,” Smith said. “All four times, you know, but that’s just the last play, the game-winning shot. That happens… You certainly miss more than you make. Even the greatest of them all has done that.”

Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils

Even so, Smith acknowledged that Flagg’s physical traits and elite skill set made him a no-brainer to be the first player taken off the board come the upcoming NBA Draft:

“But in the end, he’s 6’8-6’9, his ball-handling skills, his shot-making skills from shot-range, long-range, can play with his back to the basket, facing the basket,” added Smith. “Plus he’ll defend, plus he’ll block shots. This brother is the total package. And he is going to be the No. 1 overall pick in this upcoming NBA Draft. It is no secret what he was going to do because there’s no reason for him not to. He’s that dude.”

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At the end of the day, there are some things you just can’t measure in a player. You either have it or you don’t. Then again, that should have no effect on his draft stock whatsoever.