“Generational talents” is what they call them, and they keep proving why! Cooper Flagg and AJ Dybantsa are two of the finest young basketball stars we’ve seen in ages. One’s being hailed as the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, while the other’s already a big name before even playing college ball. Calling them the future faces of the NBA isn’t just hype, it’s more like destiny. And while you might think there’d be some serious rivalry brewing between these two, it seems more like a “we’ve got each other’s back” vibe.

Over the weekend, the Duke freshman delivered a show for the ages, scoring 42 points in the Blue Devils’ 86-78 win over Notre Dame. The performance smashed records, including the Duke freshman single-game scoring mark previously held by Zion Williamson and Jared McCain (both with 35 points). 

He also set the ACC freshman record for single-game scoring and obviously surpassed his previous career high, 26 points. With averages of 19.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists across 16 games, he is the engine of the team’s 10-game win streak with a 14-2 record.

While he tops almost all stats, his coach says, “He’s not chasing numbers. He just puts up numbers because the game comes to him.” And this time, his fellow hooper and future BYU star saw Flagg’s monster game and couldn’t help but chime in. 

Re-sharing an ESPN post on Instagram, Dybantsa wrote, “Ahh, both dropped 40 piece,” tagging Flagg’s handle. It’s all love and support, but “both?” Yes, while Flagg was rocking it in Durham, Dybantsa was doing the same in New Jersey. 

He dominated the Iverson Classic, scoring 31 points in a tight win over The Patrick School (N.J.) and following it up with a 41-point explosion against Western Reserve Academy (Ohio). No wonder he’s the top recruit in the 2026 class.

However, that also takes us back to October when Dybantsa made some competitive remarks on Paul George’s Podcast P. He made it clear he’d take himself over Flagg and Ace Bailey if they were all in the same class. “Yeah, I bet on myself. Always bet on yourself,” he said. Competitive? Very clearly. But unhealthy? Not a chance. 

And this healthy competition continues beyond the court, too.

The NIL showdown: AJ Dybantsa vs. Cooper Flagg

No, not points, we are talking about dollars here. In December 2024, Dybantsa dethroned Flagg as the richest NIL player. With deals like a historic $4 million Nike contract, the high school athlete’s valuation soared to $2.8 million!

But then came January, and Flagg made his move. All credits to on-court dominance and high-profile endorsements (Gatorade and New Balance, anyone?), his NIL value soared $900,000 in just 10 weeks, hitting $4.2 million. That leap catapulted him to the sixth-richest college basketball player. 

With a social media following of over 900,000, the Blue Devils’ star reach is unmatched. So, it shows that for now, it’s a neck-and-neck race, whether we’re talking points, potential, or paychecks. But this makes us believe these youngsters are ready to take over. And when they finally compete in the same league — likely the pros — it’ll be a rivalry for the ages. Healthy, respectful, yet more than thrilling!