As the next great former Blue Devil is set to make his NBA debut, another member of the Brotherhood made special mention of him during his own Media Day interview.

Following a historic freshman season at Duke, Cooper Flagg become the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Flagg has some of the highest expectations attached to him that the league has seen since LeBron James in 2003 and is nearing his opportunity to prove that hype legitimate.

Monday, Sept. 29, brought another former Duke Blue Devil and former No. 1 pick to the mic as the Orlando Magic held their Media Day. While fielding questions from the media, Magic forward Paolo Banchero was asked about what advice he may have given Flagg.

“Cooper’s a hell of a player,” Banchero said. “He’s a special player. And he’s gotten himself to where he’s at doing what he knows to do. So I don’t think there’s much advice I can really give him.”

It’s not some lack of interest on the part of Banchero, but rather a sign of respect for Flagg and to allow him to experience his own unique moment in the league.

“We’ve talked,” Banchero continued. “When I was back there a month ago, me and him hung out, we had conversations, got in the gym, but it was more just talking to him as a person, rather than me trying to give him advice. I think he’s handling it the way he knows how to, and he’s going to learn from his experiences.

“Our situations, I would say, aren’t the same. So, as much as I would love to try to give him advice, I think it’s best that you let him figure it out. That’s kind of what guys did for me. Now, if he came to me and asked questions, I was always there to answer and give my side of it, but just letting him kind of figure it out. He’s a great player, and I think and I think he’s going to be great in the league.”

Banchero brings up a good point. Not only is it inherently true that all people walk a different path, but even despite their similarities, there are some differences in their journeys.

Cooper Flagg was presumed to be an eventual first overall pick well before he even reclassified for the Class of 2024. Flagg was scrimmaging with future Olympic champions. Banchero’s record was impressive as a consensus top-five prospect, but he didn’t necessarily enter the league with the same type of pressure, even when you look at where both were drafted.

Banchero was drafted by the Orlando Magic, a team in need of direction that could afford to be patient with a growing rookie. Flagg, meanwhile, was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, who are clinging to title-contention hopes after trading away another generational talent in Luka Doncic. It’s not that Banchero has not dealt with pressure; he’s just wise enough to understand the differences and appears to be respecting Flagg by not trying to interject his own experiences into Flagg’s journey.

It’s clear Banchero holds a tremendous amount of respect for Flagg, as many in the Brotherhood do for each other. Unfortunately, he’ll have to wait until next year for the opportunity to show Flagg just how much he respects him, as the two will not face off for the first official time until March and April of 2026.

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