Cooper Flagg is he essentially KG or more AD?

[90sgoat]

I feel as if we need to drop the white to white comparisons, I don't really see a white comparison for Cooper Flagg, except maybe Detlef Schremph, some people say Andrei Kirilenko, but I disagree.

As I see it, Cooper Flagg is essentially a highly skilled power forward with face up ability and range out to the 3 point line.

My first impression, based on my exceptional basketball intuition, is Kevin Garnett.

While KG is remembered today for his defense, when he came into the league, he was more interesting for his versatile offense. I see a lot of KG in Cooper Flagg, the same ability to move with the ball, see the floor, shoot or pass.

There's also some AD in his play with his athleticism, the ability to shoot and rebound.

Overall, I feel as if Cooper Flagg projects as a KG level talent and would be the best in a team that runs the floor and allows him to use his talents in transition.

[iamgine]

He's like early Chris Webber

[Im Still Ballin]

Hard to say really. KG, AD, Pippen, Kirilenko, Josh Smith, Jonathan Isaac - these are all players with some similarities to Cooper.

But I agree with your analysis. I said something similar on RGM:


He's in that KG/Scottie Pippen archetype of player: a strong scorer but it's the passing, defense, IQ, and awareness that stands out. A wing version of Anthony Davis or Kevin Garnett? A more offensively capable Andrei Kirilenko? We'll see I guess.

Athletically, he's more of a fluidity guy than an explosive one. Similar to AD and KG in that regard. Great agility package allows him to change direction and pace while maintaining balance and coordination. Good flexibility through the ankles and hips. Moves well in short ranges and his long strides allow him to cover a good amount of ground.

I think his height, wingspan, and standing reach measurements line up with Brandon Ingram. 6'7.5" to 6'9" barefoot height, 7'0" to 7'4" wingspan, 9'0" to 9'3" standing reach are my safe guesses. However, he's more robust in build than Ingram.

[90sgoat]

He's like early Chris Webber

True, good comparison, but his body and athleticism seems more KG to me. Webber is a good comparison, but Webber to me is more of a passer/point forward and less of a transition player.

[90sgoat]

Hard to say really. KG, AD, Pippen, Kirilenko, Josh Smith, Jonathan Isaac - these are all players with some similarities to Cooper.

But I agree with your analysis. I said something similar on RGM:

:cheers:

Yeah, he's in that "do it all" category to me, so a team that drafts him need to be mindful that he's not a Wemby type player. He'll need a different team around him.

[3ba11]

schrempf was bigger than this kid and more talented

personally i think he'll be like Cade Cunningham - not that good

a spot-up shooter

you have to understand that it's impossible to know that "the ball finds him" like that one guy said - an absurd claim after 1 half-ass scrimmage.. people will say anything nowadays.

[90sgoat]

schrempf was bigger than this kid and more talented

personally i think he'll be like Cade Cunningham - not that good

a spot-up shooter

you have to understand that it's impossible to know that "the ball finds him" like that one guy said - an absurd claim after 1 half-ass scrimmage.. people will say anything nowadays.

Have you watched him play?

Honestly I haven't really either, but he's definitely Cade Cunningham either, much taller. He's way different. It's more of a player who's just going to do a ton of stuff on the court.

[RRR3]

schrempf was bigger than this kid and more talented

personally i think he'll be like Cade Cunningham - not that good

a spot-up shooter

you have to understand that it's impossible to know that "the ball finds him" like that one guy said - an absurd claim after 1 half-ass scrimmage.. people will say anything nowadays.
Didn't you say Wemby wouldn't be good? You're confirmed a terrible scout

[Jasper]

cooper is coop

[ShawkFactory]

schrempf was bigger than this kid and more talented

personally i think he'll be like Cade Cunningham - not that good

a spot-up shooter

you have to understand that it's impossible to know that "the ball finds him" like that one guy said - an absurd claim after 1 half-ass scrimmage.. people will say anything nowadays.

Jesus.

[Patrick Chewing]

I see KD in his game. He can do it all.

[tpols]

No way that dude has KG or AD level athleticism. He looks more like a slightly taller and lankier Utah version Gordon Hayward.

[Thorpesaurous]

I get a little of another one and done Dukie. Jason Tatum. The size is closer to PF, but not quite filled out. But the off the bounce shooting and in transition finishing has a little Tatum in it. He's better than Tatum was at that age on D, and on the glass, but Tatum rounded into a pretty high level rebounder. Flagg's a better shot blocker, and seems like a slightly better athlete in general. But he definitely reminds me of him in a bunch of ways.

[Neal Romer]

He reminds people of a lot of different players because he has a lot of strengths and not really any weaknesses for his age. Sure he could stand to improve his strength or his shooting etc if he were in the league today, but by the standards of his current age those things are at a high level.

So you can find a lot of guys to compare him to because he's sort of a total hybrid of all these guys whove come before him.

[Patrick Chewing]

No way that dude has KG or AD level athleticism. He looks more like a slightly taller and lankier Utah version Gordon Hayward.

Put on your glasses pendejo.

[90sgoat]

No way that dude has KG or AD level athleticism. He looks more like a slightly taller and lankier Utah version Gordon Hayward.

Disagree, he's definitely more of a big man than a wing. They are nothing alike. Hayward was more of a big guard, Flagg seems more like a small big.

[Im Still Ballin]

I get a little of another one and done Dukie. Jason Tatum. The size is closer to PF, but not quite filled out. But the off the bounce shooting and in transition finishing has a little Tatum in it. He's better than Tatum was at that age on D, and on the glass, but Tatum rounded into a pretty high level rebounder. Flagg's a better shot blocker, and seems like a slightly better athlete in general. But he definitely reminds me of him in a bunch of ways.

I agree.

I think the superior shot blocking and general paint/rim protection is due to Cooper's stronger two-footed jumping. And as you implied, his greater PF size. Tatum has a 6'11" wingspan and 8'10.5" standing reach. Flagg clearly is longer-armed, broader in the shoulders, and has a neck on the shorter side. Almost Kirilenko-like length in some of these pictures.

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2160629898/photo/2024-usab-mens-training-camp.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=78Ln8gwnvvjlrEKImXOKYvdNA0tKYXoMgfLFALNDCtc=

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2160341089/photo/2024-usab-mens-practice.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=emvcfbc03K0qv4Ibb_CrT_8PJItPLe1IcWcod0RiI_I=

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2160640648/photo/2024-usab-mens-training-camp.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=6wUldcoCHBDvnLZUf_bAO6ZDDHa9jKzfImSWZIKBhVw=

[Im Still Ballin]

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2160638695/photo/2024-usab-mens-training-camp.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=K0cL6u7YHXv6GC3G5KTdttHS8Pg1mKMLQUxnrJaEei8=
https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2160638549/photo/2024-usab-mens-training-camp.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=rWlflPFQqsbPWqkp52Ca-Bf5j0itbxk3-h56L73PYJw=
https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2160630020/photo/2024-usab-mens-training-camp.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=Efmp8cl0lFYemxZQwb6RPuu729-GhcpPf6wheLm4DL8=

[iamgine]

True, good comparison, but his body and athleticism seems more KG to me. Webber is a good comparison, but Webber to me is more of a passer/point forward and less of a transition player.

Early Webber was ultra athletic and was a great transition player.

[NBAGOAT]

coopers defense will be better than his offense. definitely cant do the typical white comparisons with him besides kirilenko. one scout said he's a mix of giannis, tatum, pg.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk9e3CUN76g&ab_channel=NextLevelHoops shut down ace bailey mostly here

[theballerFKA Ace]

No way that dude has KG or AD level athleticism. He looks more like a slightly taller and lankier Utah version Gordon Hayward.

He's a white guy. He'll never have those fast twitch muscles of the elite black players but he can get up. I guarantee you Cooper Flag has a much higher vertical than either KG or Webber. Then again Pat Connaughton and Grayson Allen can literally outjump 95+% of the black players in the NBA but they'll never have most of their first steps.

[Im Still Ballin]

Some similar-sized guys per the NBA Draft Combine anthropometry database:


Malik Allen (2000): 6' 8.25'' barefoot height, 9' 1'' standing reach, 7' 2.5'' wingspan
Darius Songaila (2002): 6' 8'' barefoot height, 9' 0.5'' standing reach, 7' 1'' wingspan
Carlos Boozer (2002): 6' 7.75'' barefoot height, 9' 0.5'' standing reach, 7' 2.25'' wingspan
Lee Benson (2002): 6' 8.25'' barefoot height, 9' 1'' standing reach, 7' 1.75'' wingspan
Jackie Butler (2004): 6' 8'' barefoot height, 9' 1'' standing reach (1.5" shoes worn), 7' 1.5'' wingspan
Chris Garnett (2004): 6' 8.25'' barefoot height, 9' 0'' standing reach (1.5" shoes worn), 7' 1'' wingspan
Matt Freije (2004): 6' 8.25'' barefoot height, 9' 0.5'' standing reach (1.25" shoes worn), 7' 1'' wingspan
Al Jefferson (2004): 6' 8.5'' barefoot height, 9' 2'' standing reach (1.25" shoes worn), 7' 2.5'' wingspan
Ersan Ilyasova (2005): 6' 7.75'' barefoot height, 9' 1.5'' standing reach (1.25" shoes worn), 7' 1.25'' wingspan
Deng Gai (2005): 6' 7.75'' barefoot height, 9' 2.5'' standing reach (1.5" shoes worn), 7' 4.5'' wingspan
Robert Whaley (2005): 6' 8'' barefoot height, 9' 0'' standing reach (1" shoes worn), 7' 2'' wingspan
David Simon (2005): 6' 8'' barefoot height, 9' 0'' standing reach (1.5" shoes worn), 7' 3.5'' wingspan
Cedric Simmons (2006): 6' 8.25'' barefoot height, 9' 0.5'' standing reach (1.25" shoes worn), 7' 4.25'' wingspan
Shawn James (2008): 6' 7.75'' barefoot height, 9' 3'' standing reach (1.25" shoes worn), 7' 5'' wingspan
Taj Gibson (2009): 6' 8.5'' barefoot height, 9' 1'' standing reach (1.25" shoes worn), 7' 4'' wingspan
Earl Clark (2009): 6' 8.5'' barefoot height, 9' 1.5'' standing reach (1.75" shoes worn), 7' 2.5'' wingspan
Al-Farouq Aminu (2010): 6' 7.25'' barefoot height, 9' 0.5'' standing reach (1.25" shoes worn), 7' 3.25'' wingspan
Jarvis Varnado (2010): 6' 8.25'' barefoot height, 9' 1.5'' standing reach (1.75" shoes worn), 7' 3.5'' wingspan
Keith Gallon (2010): 6' 8.5'' barefoot height, 9' 1.5'' standing reach (1" shoes worn), 7' 4.5'' wingspan
Tristan Thompson (2011): 6' 7.5'' barefoot height, 9' 0.5'' standing reach (1.25" shoes worn), 7' 1.25'' wingspan
Noah Vonleh (2014): 6' 8'' barefoot height, 9' 0'' standing reach (1.5" shoes worn), 7' 4.25' wingspan
Montrezl Harrell (2015): 6' 7'' barefoot height, 9' 1'' standing reach (0.5" shoes worn), 7' 4.25'' wingspan
Cliff Alexander (2015): 6' 7.25'' barefoot height, 9' 1.5'' standing reach (1.25" shoes worn), 7' 3.5'' wingspan
Larry Nance (2015): 6' 7.5'' barefoot height, 9' 0'' standing reach (1" shoes worn), 7' 1.5'' wingspan
Kevon Looney (2015): 6' 8'' barefoot height, 9' 2'' standing reach (1.25" shoes worn), 7' 3.5'' wingspan
Chris McCollough (2015): 6' 8.25'' barefoot height, 9' 1'' standing reach (0.75" shoes worn), 7' 3.25'' wingspan
Richaun Holmes (2015): 6' 8.25'' barefoot height, 9' 0'' standing reach (1.25" shoes worn), 7' 1.5'' wingspan
Rakeem Christmas (2015): 6' 8.25'' barefoot height, 9' 2.5'' standing reach (1.5" shoes worn), 7' 5.25'' wingspan
Caleb Swanigan (2017): 6' 7.5'' barefoot height, 9' 0'' standing reach (1" shoes worn), 7' 3'' wingspan
Johnathan Motley (2017): 6' 7.75'' barefoot height, 9' 0'' standing reach (1" shoes worn), 7' 4'' wingspan
Chris Boucher (2017): 6' 8'' barefoot height, 9' 2.5'' standing reach (1.5" shoes worn), 7' 4'' wingspan
Ike Anigbogu (2017): 6' 8.5'' barefoot height, 9' 2.5'' standing reach (1.25" shoes worn), 7' 6.25'' wingspan
Austin Wiley (2018): 6' 8.25'' barefoot height, 9' 3'' standing reach (1.75" shoes worn), 7' 5'' wingspan
Isaiah Stewart (2020): 6'7.25'' barefoot height, 9'0.50'' standing reach (1.25" shoes worn), 7'4.75'' wingspan
Precious Achiuwa (2020): 6'7.50'' barefoot height, 9'0.50'' standing reach (1.25" shoes worn), 7'0.75'' wingspan
Nathan Knight (2020): 6'8.00'' barefoot height, 9'1.50'' standing reach (1.75" shoes worn), 7'2.00'' wingspan
Paul Reed Jr. (2020): 6'8.50'' barefoot height, 9'1.50'' standing reach (0.75" shoes worn), 7'2.00'' wingspan
Scottie Barnes (2021): 6'7.0'' barefoot height, 9'0.0'' standing reach (1" shoes worn), 7'2.75'' wingspan
JT Thor (2021): 6'8.5'' barefoot height, 9'2.0'' standing reach (0.75" shoes worn), 7'3.25'' wingspan
Trevion Williams (2022): 6' 7.25'' barefoot height, 9' 0.50'' standing reach (1.5" shoes worn), 7' 2.75'' wingspan
Michael Foster Jr. (2022): 6' 7.75'' barefoot height, 9' 1.50'' standing reach (1.5" shoes worn), 7' 0.25'' wingspan
Oscar Tshiebwe (2023): 6' 7.25'' barefoot height, 9' 0.00'' standing reach, 7' 3.50'' wingspan
Adama Sanogo (2023): 6' 7.25'' barefoot height, 9' 0.50'' standing reach, 7' 2.75'' wingspan
Enrique Freeman (2024): 6' 7.25'' barefoot height, 9' 0.00'' standing reach, 7' 2.00'' wingspan
Isaac Jones (2024): 6' 7.75'' barefoot height, 9' 0.00'' standing reach, 7' 3.00'' wingspan
Nae'Qwan Tomlin (2024): 6' 8.25'' barefoot height, 9' 1.00'' standing reach, 7' 2.50'' wingspan
Adem Bona (2024): 6' 8.25'' barefoot height, 9' 0.00'' standing reach, 7' 3.75'' wingspan

[90sgoat]

Some similar-sized guys per the NBA Draft Combine anthropometry database:

Taj Gibson is the one who caught my eye out of all those duds.

Of course Coop is much more talented, but Gibson also had a nice two-way game and could hit the jumper, finish the lob and had a pretty high bball IQ.

I expect Cooper to handle the ball a lot more, but I could see that physical comparison.

[Im Still Ballin]

Taj Gibson is the one who caught my eye out of all those duds.

Of course Coop is much more talented, but Gibson also had a nice two-way game and could hit the jumper, finish the lob and had a pretty high bball IQ.

I expect Cooper to handle the ball a lot more, but I could see that physical comparison.

If he ends up with those measurements, that's a win for sure.

[Im Still Ballin]

Sam Vecenie's initial 2025 mock draft has Cooper at #1. Here's what he had to say about him:

https://i.ibb.co/KmhBwFL/Op-Z3-HIW-d.webp
https://i.ibb.co/p1vyXSf/DZ3LPcy.png

[ralph_i_el]

Josh Smith with Draymond-level defensive iq, and possibly a more consistent jumper. I don't think he is going to be a big scorer, but I think he will be a nice offensive piece as a skilled big, and then a perennially All-D guy. Watch his footwork guarding in space, it's insanely difficult for top high school players to get any space on him (along with the off-ball defense that has been repeated ad-nauseum).

[999Guy]

Josh Smith with Draymond-level defensive iq, and possibly a more consistent jumper. I don't think he is going to be a big scorer, but I think he will be a nice offensive piece as a skilled big, and then a perennially All-D guy. Watch his footwork guarding in space, it's insanely difficult for top high school players to get any space on him (along with the off-ball defense that has been repeated ad-nauseum).

I like it.