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4 hours ago
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By the time the NBA draft process concludes, Cooper Flagg will join Anthony Davis and LeBron James as the most hyped prospects of the 21st century. Flagg has already transitioned from being a "sure thing" to a "savior of a franchise," thanks to the Dallas Mavericks' stunning draft lottery win.
Flagg visually looks the part: a six-foot-eight combo wing who can put the ball on the deck and wreck a game defensively. His skill set is unique in that few have had such a valuable skill set, but one creator sees shades of a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
On his "Locked on Mavericks" podcast, host Isaac Harris suggested the best comparison for Flagg: Kevin Garnett.
"When I think of Kevin Garnett, I don't think of Boston Kevin Garnett; I think of young KG in Minnesota," Harris said. "When I think about Kevin Garnett, I think about the defensive versatility: the shot-blocking and the switchability to be able to guard on the perimeter. But also, his impact around the basket, his timing blocking shots above the rim, and all of that. I think of some of the offense they ran through KG and the point-forward stuff, some of his mid-range shots, and just how he'd get to the basket and just yam on people."
There is some truth to the Garnett parallels, particularly defensively, with the wiry frame and the capability to guard multiple positions or be an anchor on the low block. Flagg does have some back-to-the-basket stuff, but his offensive arsenal is far more perimeter-oriented.
In Boston, when he started to lose touch with his athleticism, Garnett operated more, looking at the cup, becoming a messiah of the midrange. Flagg also has that in his bag and loves to get to knock down 16-foot jumpers.
The 18-year-old is kind of a Garnett hybrid, taking pieces throughout his career to morph into this unstoppable force.
With Flagg's childhood affinity for the Celtics and current admiration of Jayson Tatum, that does make sense.
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