Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor reacts to Cooper Flagg’s Duke debut and if the hype surrounding the projected #1 NBA draft pick is warranted.
Video Transcript
Is the Cooper flag hype justified.
I’d say so following his Duke debut though, he wasn’t amazing by any means.
He shot only six of 15 from the floor.
He missed all four of his three pointers and that’s an area.
He’s gonna have to prove that he can excel before he’s the number one pick in the NBA.
But he was effectively Duke’s point guard.
He had five assists, sprayed the ball over the floor with driving kicks.
He was playing at a pick and roll.
He found shooters on the opposite wing in the opposite corner, driving underneath the basket, kicking him out accurately.
And this is a guy who’s 6 ft nine.
The big draw is his defense though.
It’s energy, it’s intensity and he was all over the passing lanes.
He had three steals and then the big play that’s gonna stick in my mind from his debut up 29 points late in the game around four minutes left, dives on the floor sweat pouring down his face and he, he’s putting in maximum effort.
That’s who Cooper flag is.
But overall though, I, I was most impressed by his playmaking and that’s where he’s gonna have opportunities this year with Duke.
They don’t have a true throwback style point guard.
So flag’s gonna have a lot of opportunities and he’s only 17 years old and they’re putting the ball in his hands.
He doesn’t turn 18 until December.
So for him, he’s gonna get opportunities to score.
The big scoring nights are gonna come.
And even tonight, he did show off his scoring versatility.
He had a big dunk in the first half, attacking a close up, close out late in the second half faced up, drove left, finished left and in the NBA, I think looking ahead when he is playing with a true point guard, the opportunities as a screener at 69 and as a cutter are gonna come for him.
But overall game one for Cooper flag, I was very impressed by the flashes that he showed and that’s why he’s gonna be in that number one conversation.
Duke also has two other potential top 10 picks.
Mawa 7 ft two center not very impressive in his debut.
He got scored on too often, too easily.
Game one, I’m not overreacting though.
However, their other guy, Con Kel was awesome.
67, 19 years old had 22 points in the game on 8 to 14 from the field, sharpshooter from three scored from everywhere beyond the arc but also scored inside.
Great feel in the pick and roll.
Not a great athlete by any means, not the quickest, but he plays with the pace and got where he wanted on the floor and plus he made some good passes.
Overall.
Duke Blue Devils prospects, get a two thumbs up in their first game.
