Cooper Flagg has long been compared to his fair share of NBA legends, and Kevin Garnett has probably been the most common one.
Indeed, it might be easier to list the NBA legends that Cooper Flagg hasn’t been compared to than the ones he has been.
His versatility is one of his greatest strengths, perhaps second only to his competitive drive. Flagg arguably has the defense that made Scottie Pippen so great, the scoring acumen of Grant Hill, and the IQ of LeBron James.
As a strong forward, Kevin Garnett comes to mind, but that’s an imperfect comparison. The Big Ticket did more damage down low and was simply larger, and Flagg has him beat in one key area.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesCooper Flagg is a better scorer than Kevin Garnett
Garnett was known for his defense, first and foremost, although he did win an MVP award in 2004, an honor typically reserved for scorers.
Flagg, like Garnett, can do most things well. However, he shot a stellar 38.5% from 3-point range in college. Garnett was only a career 27.5% shooter from deep, although he was a floor-spacer for the time, stepping out to hit 18-foot jump shots.
Still, Flagg is expected to impact scoring more than Garnett while being just as intense a defender.
“I think he’ll be a better scorer than Garnett,” predicted Chris Broussard. “Like, offensively, he can do it all. He can shoot the 3. He’s got the mid-range shot.
“He can post a little bit, and I think will post better as his career goes on. He can, you know, lead the fast break, can obviously take it to the hole and dunk.”
In the modern NBA, almost everyone needs to be able to knock down 3-pointers and handle the ball, and Flagg excels at both while remaining an elite defender. It’s been said before, but the sky is truly the limit.
“I think he can be a superstar,” Broussard continued. “Like, his ceiling is superstar, MVP candidate, you know, and maybe winning it a time or two.”
“I think he’ll [Cooper Flagg] be a better scorer than Kevin Garnett. His offensive package is way better than KG’s when you compare those two. I think he is the truth”
Chris Broussard gives his thoughts on the future of Coopers Flagg 👀
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Cooper Flagg will help the NBA skip a generation
LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry were all born in the 1980s. They have long been the faces of the NBA and still hold that crown, beating out even the likes of Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jokic, Giannis, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, and virtually every established star in the league aside from James, Curry, and Durant were born in the 1990s, although they are yet to take the torch from the old guard.
Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama, meanwhile, are the first true stars to have been born in the 2000s, and when talks emerge about who the “next face of the league” is, those two tend to lead the way. Add in Flagg, born in 2006, and it’s safe to say that the 1990s could be entirely skipped.
The next generation is here, and they are ready to leapfrog some of the best to ever play simply thanks to their own stardom and undeniable talent.