The Utah Jazz are setting themselves up for a major opportunity in the 2025 NBA Draft this June. The excitement surrounding their potential lottery position and who they might select is thrilling for both Jazz fans and NBA draft enthusiasts. Should the Jazz get lucky and land the number one pick, they’ll be in a prime position to “Capture the Flagg.” Cooper Flagg is the obvious choice, and here’s why:
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
The Utah Jazz’ Dream Pick
Cooper Flagg has been the hot topic in this year’s draft conversations and has generated enough buzz to be the favorite for the #1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The 6’9” forward from Duke would be the Utah Jazz’ perfect pick as they continue rebuilding and seek foundational young talent for the long term. The Jazz have been itching for a lengthy forward who can rebound, pass, create for himself, and play defense at an elite level. In the most recent drafts, their main focus with their top 10 picks has been to target that exact archetype. From an idealistic point of view, both Taylor Hendricks and Cody Williams fit that mold, and the Jazz did their very best with the hand they were dealt to achieve their vision. Let’s talk more about previous drafts that would give Cooper Flagg the edge over everyone else in this year’s talented draft class and why Danny Ainge, Justin Zanik, and the Utah Jazz would select him if the opportunity presented itself.
Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/NBAE via Getty Images
Danny Ainge’s Draft Track Record
We cannot forget who the CEO of Basketball Operations for the Utah Jazz is, it is former Celtic and longtime GM, Danny Ainge. Danny Ainge deserves most of the credit for the Celtics’ 2024 NBA Championship run, as he was the one who selected the two All-Star forwards—the cornerstone forwards—who led Boston to an NBA Finals appearance not only once but twice and are still so undeniably dominant today. Not only did Danny Ainge select Jayson Tatum, but he also traded down from the #1 overall pick for the #3 overall pick, passing up on the two highly talented guards in college, Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball, who were selected before the potential future Hall of Famer.
That was not Ainge’s first time going all in on a guy he’s liked in the NBA Draft either, he did it about 16 years ago for Kevin Durant who was drafted with the 2nd pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
“[The Celtics] lost 19 games in a row in 2007 and our plan was [to draft] Kevin Durant, but when the lottery came around, we got knocked back three spots to number five, and our plan changed immediately” – Danny Ainge (Post-season Press Conference 2024)
Danny’s goal was to go all in on another young talented forward with positional size, who didn’t even go number 1 in his draft. Once that dream became unattainable, they shifted gears and traded for Kevin Garnett — who happens to be one of Cooper Flagg’s NBA comparisons — yet another star forward with positional size and defensive versatility that helped the Celtics reach their goal that same year and win a title.
Photo by Jeyhoun Allebaugh/NBAE via Getty Images
Good ol’ Gordon
The Utah Jazz have had at least some success with late top 10 picks in the past, one of which being Gordon Betrayward Hayward. Gordon Hayward was a fantastic All-Star forward for the Utah Jazz. He was a very skilled, athletic, versatile forward with positional size who could do a whole lot of things on the basketball court in a variety of ways. In his last year with the Utah Jazz, he tallied his first and only All-Star appearance and took Utah to its first playoff appearance after a 4-year drought; the Jazz, unfortunately, got bulldozed by the infamous 2016 Golden State Warriors, who ended up losing in the Finals.
Soon after that, Danny Ainge saw an opportunity. Ainge picked up the phone and worked his magic, which ended with a whole lot of sad, frustrated, and distraught Utah Jazz fans. Danny Ainge did what Danny Ainge does and got his hands on yet ANOTHER skilled forward, which was very short-lived.
The point here is that forwards/wings with ball-handling skill and can play on both sides of the court are exactly what Danny Ainge looks for and has been very successful with. They are historically the most important part of building a championship contender and a reason why the Utah Jazz never made it past the second round in the Donovan Mitchell & Rudy Gobert era.
Photo by Lance King/Getty Images
Back to Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg’s stats: 16.9 PPG | 8.2 RPG | 3.7 APG | 1.7 SPG | 1.2 BPG | 44% FG | 27% 3FG | 76% FT
Versatile Defender
Now that we know that Cooper Flagg is a tall, versatile athlete who is good on defense, but what separates him from the rest and even those with similar builds? When I say his defense is good, I mean it is otherworldly. He is the only player in his conference (ACC) to be top 10 in both steals per game (1.7) and blocks per game (1.2) and is also leading his team to a top 5 defense nationwide. His lengthy body and wingspan take up a large area of the court and can make it very difficult for players to get by him on and off the ball, score around the rim, and even make passes. If you are playing against him, you have to know where Cooper Flagg is at all times, or else it could cost you. His offense may not be NBA ready right out of the gate, but if you have a player who can be a perennial all-time defender at the wing position, then that increases your odds of winning a championship especially if they can guard multiple positions. Offense wins you games, but defense wins you championships.
Elite-level Playmaker
Defense isn’t the only trait that makes Cooper Flagg the favorite to be the number-one pick in the draft—his phenomenal passing sets him apart as well. Cooper Flagg has eyes on the back of his head and has the passing chops of a guard — mind you he is 6’9” — and can be classified as one of the best playmakers among freshmen in the entire draft. Cooper Flagg is averaging 3.7 with an AST% of 23.7% in college, which is an AST% that only 1 other ‘wing’ in college has done since 2008, the one other being Ben Simmons (via barttorvik.com). AST% is how much a player assisted on baskets made while they were in the game. For example, through Mike Conley’s days as a member of the Utah Jazz, he had an AST% of 27.9%, so you can definitely make the case that Cooper Flagg is an elite-level playmaker for his age and position.
Somewhat quiet game from Cooper Flagg (he’ll have some of these), but still thought he showed a lot of the things that make him special with the defensive versatility, passing, non-stop intensity, elite feel and flashes of skill. Duke destroyed ASU and spread minutes around. pic.twitter.com/gmBWLePA9j
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) October 28, 2024
Versatile Scorer
As stated above, Cooper Flagg’s offense has been a question if it’s NBA ready or even will get to the level of the great wings in today’s game, but let’s talk about how he is scoring at the college level. He runs the floor like a gazelle and glides to the rim off the ball with ease, especially in transition. He is able to put the ball on the floor, bang into guys, and use his broad shoulders and get to the basket. He has shown great promise of potentially having a pull-up mid-range game and his high release form paired with his height makes it a perfect combination for it being hard for others to contest. His three-point shot is coming around, but he’s only shooting an underwhelming 27.1% from behind the arc, which is not necessarily great. However, there is a glimmer of hope, having a FT% of >70% is a great indicator of whether he’ll be able to shoot it at least around league average. Cooper Flagg also generates a lot of offense through his elite defense.
There are many ways you can utilize Cooper Flagg on offense whether that be as a ball handler, an off-ball cutter, a post-up scorer, or as the pick-and-roll man. His versatility and ability to play multiple positions on the basketball court make him a prospect that’s too valuable to pass up.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
The Modern Day Kirilenko
When scouts and NBA Draft analysts search for NBA comparisons to describe the game of Cooper Flagg, the name Andrei Kirilenko frequently surfaces. It’s not just a lazy comparison to a versatile forward — Flagg and Kirilenko share similarities in their style of play, defensive instincts, and all-around impact on the court. Here’s a closer look at why Cooper Flagg has been likened to the great Utah Jazz legend “AK-47” of today’s game.
Defensive Versatility
Andrei Kirilenko was known as one of the most dynamic defenders of his era, capable of guarding multiple positions and anchoring a defense without being a traditional center. His combination of shot-blocking, disruptive instincts, and positional versatility made him invaluable on that end of the floor.
Similarly, Cooper Flagg is already earning a reputation as a defensive maestro. Like Kirilenko, he thrives on reading plays before they develop, often rotating at just the right moment to take away scoring opportunities.
Playmaking and Secondary Creation
Kirilenko was never a traditional primary scorer, but his ability to create for others often went overlooked. His passing, particularly in transition or from the high post, was a vital element of his offensive game. Flagg mirrors this trait. While Cooper is a capable scorer, his basketball IQ and unselfishness often shine when he’s making plays for teammates.
Flagg has also shown many flashes of being a connective passer — a player who can keep the ball moving within the offense while making quick and accurate reads. This ability to contribute offensively without dominating the ball is another layer of the Kirilenko comparison.
Transition Play and Hustle
What made Kirilenko so impactful was his relentless motor. Whether running the floor for transition buckets, crashing the glass, or chasing down fast-break blocks, his motor was unmatched. Flagg plays with a similar edge; he is always outworking his opponents and even his own teammates. Cooper Flagg will feed off of plays even if he isn’t involved in them meaning that he is getting hyped over what his teammates do. Will Hardy has made it known that he wants players who are tough and who will play hard every second of the game, and Cooper, like Kirilenko, will do just that.
A Modern Twist
The NBA has evolved since Kirilenko’s prime, with a greater emphasis on the three-point shooting and switchable defense. Flagg fits great into this modern mold, as he combines Kirilenko’s defensive versatility with a more refined perimeter game than AK-47’s 367 threes in a 13-year career.
Comparing Flagg to Kirilenko isn’t about placing a ceiling on his potential or even making it a 1 to 1 comparison. No two players are exactly alike, but if Flagg can amount to bits and pieces of what Andrei did in his career and add a bit of his own spice, then I believe that he could be a force to be reckoned with down the line.
Time to “Capture the Flagg”
With all of this in mind, it’s crucial for the Utah Jazz to maintain their pace and finish the season with a record of 18-64, which would put them in prime position for a top-five pick in the NBA Draft. If they’re fortunate enough to land the number-one pick, I’m confident that Danny Ainge and the Jazz will select Cooper Flagg. And here’s the kicker: Cooper Flagg grew up a Celtics fan.
Kevin Garnett on Cooper Flagg: