During his collegiate days, Magic Johnson enamored fans with his skills. He led his Spartans to the first and even the program’s first championship in 1979. So, when any hooper from today has excellent skills, people generally compare them to the Lakers’ legend. Last year, it was Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s rivalry that attracted the Magic-Bird comparisons. This year, it is the projected #1 NBA draft pick for 2025. CBS’ Avery Johnson recently made the comparison after Cooper Flagg’s explosive performance against Notre Dame.

“What I look at a guy like Cooper Flagg. I’m thinking about some of the really outstanding young guys at the same age. The even whether they went to college or not. Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant at the same age and the type of skill set that he has, he’s in that category, let alone just at the top of the Duke freshman.”

Cooper Flagg scored 42 points along with 7 assists and 6 rebounds, to earn the praise from Avery Johnson. He is not the only one to compare the 18-year-old with the 65-year-old 5x NBA Champion.

Richard Vitale, former head coach and acclaimed college basketball broadcaster, felt the same. “As @DShulman_ESPN & @JayBilas have said so well @DukeMBB ‘star @CooperFlagg is a multi-dimensional superstar. In my many years of basketball that I have seen personally as Cooper is right there with the 3 best I ever seen at a young age @KingJames @kobebryant @MagicJohnson.”

Vitale’s tweet adds another stamp of approval for the Maine native during his NCAA run with the Dukes. That’s why Avery Johnson previously doubled down on Cooper Flagg’s greatness: “If he doesn’t play another game this year in college basketball, which would be very disappointing, the kid is still a number one pick.”

The college basketball analyst, Avery Johnson, was in conversation with Emily Proud, discussing Flagg’s ACC Freshman Single-Game Record. But the praise from the former NBA Champion doesn’t end there. 

After the Magic Johnson comparison, Cooper Flagg is compared with Spurs legend

Avery Johnson played 16 seasons in the NBA and was part of the Spurs team that won the 1999 title over the New York Knicks. So, if he compares the Duke Freshman with his former team’s power forward, the praise contains high weight. 

“If you’re Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans, Brooklyn Nets… I would make sure I’m in that position, because this kid is better than anybody that’s on your team… He’s a kid that can do the same thing that Tim Duncan did for my Spurs back in 1997.” In fact, another greatest forward to grace the court, Kevin Garnett too had a lot of admiration for Cooper Flagg.

The freshman has showcased his skills time and time again. Whether it’s his dunking ability or scoring beyond the arc, he is doing it all. Currently, he leads the Blue Devils in all five categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. But is it too soon for the 18-year-old to be compared to Magic Johnson? Only time will tell.