For Duke coach Jon Scheyer, Cooper Flagg may be the best player in the country, but the freshman doesn’t remain undisputed. Johni Broome’s solid run, with his nation’s best BPR, is helping shape the NPOY race to be one of the best in recent years. Ace Bailey, on the other hand, is giving the Blue Devil a run for his money on the 2025 draft prospect charts. A recent few scout reports would have given that away, but Paul George’s assessments are here to make clear.

On his podcast, “Podcast P with Paul George,” the Philadelphia 76ers star revealed his top pick for the upcoming draft. While he commends Cooper Flagg, there’s another talent, who he believes has got more to offer.

“If I had to pick, I would probably go Ace Bailey. I think Ace Bailey is a little bit more raw talent with still a ton of upside. I think Cooper Flagg, not to say he has no upside, he has amazing upside as well but I think Ace Bailey has a little bit more upside to him. I think he can scratch a little bit more off of his surface than Cooper Flagg can,” George reveals.

By pure stats, Bailey is currently averaging 18.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, shooting 46.6% from the field in his freshman season. Meanwhile, Flagg is putting up 19.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, with a 48.5% shooting percentage.

“He’s [among the] top-3 youth players in the world,” an NBA scout told Zagoria, Bleacher Report reveals.“Everyone has Cooper Fever, [but] he will challenge Cooper for No. 1.”

While Flagg has the edge as a playmaker, showcasing an ability to distribute the ball effectively, Bailey is still developing in that area. Additionally, Bailey’s lack of rim pressure has been cited as a potential concern by scouts, possibly affecting his draft stock.

NBA analyst Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report currently has Bailey projected as the third overall pick, while his Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper is ranked second.

For Paul George, this is some future in the making. “Definitely those two will be the Magic Johnson – Larry Bird comparisons,” he adds.

The 76ers are reportedly keeping an eye on Bailey, potentially pairing his offensive skills and athleticism alongside Joel Embiid as Philadelphia looks to rebuild into a championship contender. However, a major twist could shake up the entire draft landscape.

Cooper Flagg wants to come back for a second year at Duke!

Flagg took social media by storm earlier this week with a shocking revelation during an interview with The Athletic. The highly touted prospect dropped a bombshell, saying he might return to Duke in 2026. “I want to come back next year,” Flagg told Brendan Quinn and Brendan Marks.

If Flagg decides to return to Duke, he wouldn’t be missing out on money. With NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals booming, players are now earning millions in college—a significant shift from previous eras.

For example, AJ Dybantsa, the top prospect in the 2026 class, recently signed a $7 million NIL deal to play at BYU. Given Flagg’s star power, he could land an even bigger contract if he chooses to remain in college.

However, if Flagg is motivated primarily by money, the NBA is still the better option. As the projected No. 1 overall pick, his base salary would be around $12.6 million in his rookie season alone—a significant upgrade from any college deal.

While Duke fans may hope to see Flagg for another year, they still remember Zion Williamson’s short-lived but electrifying college run. Williamson had similar draft stock and fanfare before entering the NBA, and many believe Flagg shouldn’t risk injury or hurt his draft value by staying an extra year.

While Paul George thinks Ace Bailey is going to be the first pick in the upcoming draft, the odds are still in favor of Flagg claiming that spot, unless he surprises us all and decides to come back for a second season at Duke! So, what do you think? Who’s taking the No. 1 pick?