Blake Griffin sees something rare in Cooper Flagg. On the Post Moves show, Griffin said, via Basketball Network, “I think he’s the most complete player we’ve seen come into the NBA in recent memory. Not saying he doesn’t have room to grow; he still has a ton of room to grow, but I mean, he passes, he shoots, he defends, he rebounds, he seems like a great teammate and seems like a great kid.”
Griffin added that Flagg’s versatility separates him. “Wemby is very complete as well, but Cooper is able to play so many different positions, guard so many different positions… I’m just excited for him to start this journey.”
The 18-year-old forward was selected first overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA Draft after a standout freshman season at Duke. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, earning National Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, and ACC Rookie of the Year honors.
Flagg’s freshman campaign included a historic 42-point game against Notre Dame, which set new scoring records for both Duke and the ACC. He led the Blue Devils to an ACC title and a Final Four appearance before declaring for the draft.
Griffin’s praise adds to growing league-wide expectations. Many scouts believe Flagg’s basketball IQ and two-way skill set could allow him to make an immediate impact as a rookie.
Griffin, a former No. 1 pick himself, pointed out that the lack of “red flags” around Flagg is what makes him unique. For Dallas, that could mean a smoother transition as they push to re-establish themselves in the Western Conference.
