With the 2025 NBA Draft lower than two weeks away, it’s the proper time to match Cooper Flagg to a former Duke Blue Devils star.
The Dallas Mavericks have a simple alternative for his or her No. 1 general decide within the 2025 NBA Draft as Duke Blue Devils’ Cooper Flagg is the very best prospect in his class.
Even within the NBA Evaluation Community’s Jonah Kubicek’s newest mock draft, Flagg goes first general to the Mavericks.
However let’s change issues up and examine the gifted prospect to the No. 1 general decide within the 2022 NBA Draft, Paolo Banchero.
Evidently, Banchero was additionally a high prospect in his class and he additionally spent a 12 months taking part in for Duke’s basketball program.
Contemplating Banchero has already accomplished the third NBA season of his profession with the Orlando Magic, followers have an thought of how he performs. Banchero has proven shades of LeBron James early in his profession.
Being an influence ahead, Banchero focuses on scoring and rebounding the ball somewhat than playmaking for his teammates. Coming to Flagg, he’s considered as probably the greatest small forwards in his class.
Nonetheless, apart from scoring and rebounding, Flagg is a really succesful defender. He depends on his explosiveness to influence the sport versus Banchero, who typically slows down the sport to play at his personal tempo.
The Magic star stands at 6’10 whereas weighing 250 lbs and has a wingspan of seven’1. Nonetheless, essentially the most standout bodily attribute is his unimaginable energy. That’s an enormous motive behind Banchero’s fast transition from the NCAA to the NBA.
Alternatively, Flagg is 6’7 and weighs about 210 lbs with a wingspan of seven’0. So, Flagg is smaller and lighter than Banchero as his physique may be in comparison with San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama throughout his rookie 12 months.
However right here’s the silver lining: Flagg can nonetheless develop since he’s simply 18 years previous. Actually, in response to Yahoo Sports activities, Flagg has already grown an inch over his time within the NCAA.
Each Banchero and Flagg declared for the NBA Draft after spending only a single season within the NCAA. Banchero averaged 17.2 factors, 7.8 rebounds, and three.2 assists per recreation whereas taking pictures 47.8% from the sphere and 33.8% from the three-point line.
As for Flagg, he contributed 19.2 factors, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per recreation whereas taking pictures 48.1% from the sphere and 38.5% from deep.
Nonetheless, neither Banchero nor Flagg could lead on Duke to the NCAA Championship. Actually, in each years, Duke was eradicated within the Remaining 4 of March Insanity.
To be sincere, predicting a participant’s NBA potential isn’t simple. The likes of Nikola Jokic and Jalen Brunson are proof of that. However evaluating two potential No. 1 picks definitely makes it a tad bit simpler.
Followers have already seen Banchero develop at a fast fee within the first three years of his profession. He averaged 25.9 factors, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists within the 2024-25 NBA season. The Jordan athlete has already earned an NBA All-Star spot as properly.
If he stays away from accidents, Banchero will seemingly turn out to be a perennial All-Star/All-NBA participant within the league, who can someday perhaps lead the Magic to a title.
As for Flagg, there’s extra buzz round him in comparison with Banchero. Let’s not neglect that Paolo wasn’t even the consensus No. 1 decide within the 2022 NBA Draft. Flagg is head and shoulders above his friends within the class.
Assuming he stays wholesome and places on some further muscle, Flagg has the potential to be the following face of the NBA. Furthermore, he already has the burden of therapeutic the Mavs fanbase following Nico Harrison’s surprising Luka Doncic commerce.
The abstract of the above-mentioned factors hints at Flagg undoubtedly being a greater prospect than Banchero.
Furthermore, he’s 4 years youthful than the Magic star, so Flagg has higher potential by the point each retire from the league. Regardless of that verdict, it’s not as if Banchero is simply too far behind Flagg by way of expertise.
Finally, their NBA legacy will probably be determined by how properly their respective franchise builds the roster round them to assist them compete for championships on a yearly foundation.
