Cooper Flagg is the current talk of the town as he has officially declared that he is entering the NBA draft. “It didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but still an incredible year,” Flagg said after the heartbreaking Final Four loss against Houston. It was a chaotic ending to a season that propelled Flagg to new heights, something set to continue in the young prodigy’s career.

The Blue Devils went into the Final Four which was made up of all No. 1 seeds as the favorite to win the national championship. They won their four games ahead of their final four match-up by an average margin of 23.5 points. Of course, all the preparation and the games leading up to it don’t matter if you don’t perform on the day. Flagg and Co. lost to the Houston Cougars in dramatic fashion, with the freshman partly to blame as he missed a shot that would have won them the match.

In the recent podcast, Tim Donnelly and Graham Hill pointed out some unnerving facts about Cooper Flagg and his time at Duke. Tim Donnely said in the ESPN 99.9 The Fan podcast, “It’s not just one shot. He turned a ball over a few times against Kentucky late, turned the ball over against Kansas late. Both games they lost early. Missed the shot. If you are somebody that overanalyzes individual games in college. I say overanalyzes the negative. You probably do have your concerns about Cooper Flagg.”

Donnely referred to the fact that in all three games that Duke lost this season, Flagg committed some blunders, which could be a point of concern. The Duke superstar was heavily criticized after the Kentucky game as his two turnovers in the final moments proved crucial to Kentucky’s victory. In that game, he was below par from beyond the arc as well (1-of-5 from three). A similar theme followed Flagg to the Kansas game. Flagg also missed a clutch shot in the most important game of the season.

It is important to note that these were the only matches where he was slightly off his game the entire season. So, it might be unfair to overanalyze such trends.

After all, Flagg led the country to an U17 gold at the FIBA U17 World Cup in 2022. At just 15, his versatility was on display in Team USA’s victory over Spain in the final as he collected 10 points, 17 rebounds, 8 steals, and 4 blocks. Whenever the USA needed a big play – at either end of the court – Flagg seemed to be there to provide it. Even the most staunch of critics will agree that there are only a few bigger occasions than representing your country in a World Cup final. As a 15-year-old, he dominated, and simply did not let the pressure get to him.

Still, however unlikely that this one missed basket in the NCAA Final Four define the generational talent, Flagg is only going to have more eyes on him, as he inches closer and closer to the NBA.

Tim Donnelly  shuts down ‘too early’ talks

Despite those shortcomings, Flagg had a season to remember as he waltzed his way to becoming the youngest AP Player of the Year. Cooper became the fourth freshman to win it after Kevin Durant in 2007, Anthony Davis in 2012, and Zion Williamson in 2019. Elite company indeed. Flagg averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season—numbers that slightly undermine the extent to which he controlled games.

And while some may question if it is too early, Tim Donnelly is completely in support of Flagg going pro, “Listen, he has to go pro, let’s just be clear. He is going to be the No. 1 overall pick and before you argue that he is giving up something, he is giving up nothing. He can have his college experience if he wants, on his own terms.”

Donnelly also mentioned that if he wants to go back and complete his education, he can go back anytime. He equated this situation to LeBron James, as he said, “There’s nothing that says he can’t live in an apartment complex with his young teammates from the NBA and get the dorm experience or bring his buddies from high school and get the dorm experience. You know, LeBron talks about the Miami years for him. He spent four years in Miami. That was his college experience. Like he can do it all.”

When LeBron left for Miami at the age of 25, it was essentially the first time he lived away from home. “Miami, for me, has been almost like college for other kids. These past four years helped raise me into who I am. I became a better player and a better man.” The Big Man never went to college, as he has been in the news since he was 16. Flagg could get pointers from LeBron and eventually get his own college experience!

However, for now, he will move to the big leagues and will probably be the number 1 draft pick, making history as he will become the first No. 1 draft pick from his state, Maine. It is the truth of life that you will always miss out on something. Flagg will play those last 20 seconds from the final 4 games a few times in his mind before returning to reality. The 18-year-old will have to move on quickly and be on his game, as the NBA is ruthless to the unprepared.

But yet, just the names in whose breath he is already sometimes mentioned in, might mean that he is also destined for something special.