On the latest episode of 7PM in Brooklyn, a Wave Original, Carmelo Anthony discussed Flagg’s impressive freshman season with Duke and how his impact on the game goes beyond scoring. Anthony, who led Syracuse to an NCAA championship as a freshman in 2003, compared Flagg’s ability to dominate games in multiple ways to his own collegiate success.
“I enjoy watching him play,” the newest Basketball Hall of Fame inductee said. “He just impacts the game at a totally high level. He don’t have to score, but he can score if he want… He’s impressive. He’s very impressive to watch as a player but also a player at that age.”
Duke, led by Flagg, has been dominant throughout the season, winning the ACC Tournament and entering the Final Four with a 35-3 record. The 18-year-old forward has been a crucial factor in their success, averaging 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
Anthony emphasized how rare it is to see a freshman take over games the way Flagg has. “You don’t see an 18-year-old kid dominating like that,” he said. “But also dominating to the point where you have a chance to go win it. You’re leading your team to a national championship.”
Flagg’s versatility has been one of his biggest strengths. The 6-foot-9 forward impacts both ends of the floor with his scoring, rebounding, shot-blocking, and defensive energy. Anthony believes that makes Duke a complete team with no real weaknesses.
“They was already a good team,” he said. “They complete at this moment, they have no holes in their offense or their defense… You have to be on it and almost perfect in execution.”
If Duke wins the national championship, Flagg would join Anthony as one of the few freshmen to lead a team to a title while being the undisputed star. Anthony’s one-and-done season at Syracuse remains one of the greatest freshman campaigns in NCAA history, capped off by a 20-point, 10-rebound performance in the championship game.
Flagg’s ability to impact winning without always needing to score is something that stands out to Anthony. “You don’t see that,” he said. “The way that you could just move him around the court, he’s dominant… He takes over a game without scoring the ball, shooting the three, he dominates a game.”
The Maine native has been projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and his tournament run is only solidifying that status. With his size, athleticism, and two-way impact, scouts see him as a franchise-changing player at the next level.
Anthony also touched on how the college basketball landscape has changed with NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals. Players like Flagg are making significant money before even reaching the NBA, which Anthony believes changes the dynamic of college basketball.
“They no more students,” Anthony said. “They are professional athletes at this point in time… These guys are making hundreds of thousands of dollars, millions of dollars in college to go perform.”
Flagg and Duke are now one win away from a national title, with a Final Four matchup against Houston up next. If they go all the way, the comparisons between Flagg and Anthony’s legendary freshman season will only grow stronger.
