Is Cooper Flagg the new Jayson Tatum? Legendary Team USA coach weighs in

With just over a month to go before the 2025 NBA Draft, much of the spotlight is on Cooper Flagg. The young player is widely considered the favorite to be this year’s first overall pick, which would land him with the Dallas Mavericks. In this context, a former Team USA coach spoke about his supposed similarities to Jayson Tatum, another Duke product.

“I think they’re two different players,” said Mike Krzyzewski when asked about the comparisons between Flagg and Tatum during a recent interview on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. “They’re both 6’8″. Actually, I think Cooper grew about an inch here. You know, he’s still only 18 years old, so he’s still growing. He might end up being 6’10.”

The former Duke coach, who retired in 2022, highlighted Flagg’s strengths. “Cooper is just unique. You know, like he’s so strong. His legs are so strong. And athletically he’s gifted. But attitudinally, when you add what his athletic ability and his competitive, attitude, you have a very special guy,” said Mike.

“He can really score the ball,” Krzyzewski added about Flagg. “I think he’s a good shooter, trying to become a really good shooter. Jayson is that shooter… I think offensively, Jayson really has developed into a great shooter. Jayson, he’s really developed differently than I think Cooper will develop.”

Matt Jones #13 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Duke Blue Devils talk with head coach Mike Krzyzewski on December 6, 2016.

Mike Krzyzewski knows what he’s talking about

When Krzyzewski says that Cooper Flagg has a unique talent, it’s praise that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Coach K was one of the most influential figures in college basketball for decades. He began his career in 1974 as an assistant at Indiana, then had a stint at Army before arriving at Duke, where he coached for 42 years.

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There, Mike won numerous championships and individual honors, while coaching several stars who went on to shine in the NBA. Among them were Kyrie Irving, Carlos Boozer, Jayson Tatum, JJ Redick, Zion Williamson, Grant Hill, and Christian Laettner.

Krzyzewski also played a crucial role in restoring the prestige of Team USA after the disappointment of the 2004 Athens Olympics. He assembled the now-iconic Redeem Team, which—led by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James—dominated the 2008 Beijing Games. That success continued at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Flagg’s future looks set in Dallas

Like his Duke fellow Jayson Tatum, Cooper Flagg is expected to be a top pick in the NBA Draft. But while the 27-year-old forward was selected third overall in 2017 by the Boston Celtics, there now seems to be a near-unanimous consensus that Flagg will go No. 1.

Since Dallas holds that top pick, Jason Kidd was asked whether Flagg is the priority for the Mavericks. “Yes,” he said in an interview on The Dan Patrick Show. “I’m just the coach, but yes, I would say we’re all concentrating on number one. The draft is deep, but the name you just brought up, I think we’re all focused on.”