Imagine being a freshman in college and already the talk of the basketball world. That’s the reality for Cooper Flagg, Duke’s 6’9” phenom from Maine. His jaw-dropping performances — including a 42-point explosion against Notre Dame — have made him the face of Duke’s impressive 8-0, 16-2 season. Fans are already calling it the stuff of fairy tales. But, as often happens, not everyone believes in happy endings—at least not for Flagg’s pursuit of National Player of the Year.

The conversation took a turn recently when NBC Sports analyst Vaughn Dalzell stirred the pot with a bold claim. He suggested that Rutgers freshman Ace Bailey, despite playing for a struggling team, might actually be “the best player in the country.” While Dalzell conceded that Cooper Flagg has a “99% likely” chance of taking home the award thanks to Duke’s success, his comments added fuel to an already heated debate.

However, not everyone is convinced. Fellow NBC analyst Drew Dinsick wasn’t shy about challenging the narrative. “Are the voting criteria for this award based solely on vibes? Because, like, there’s no statistical profile I could come up with that says Cooper Flagg has performed the best. You know, you can look at raw counting stats, and players like Eric Dixon are way up there…I guess if you look at advanced metrics, Flagg is kind of in the 10-11 range with most of the people that I see who are doing player-level analysis. So, it’s just kind of because he’s on Duke and because he’s projected to go first overall in the NBA.” Dinsick said, adding that Flagg’s Duke pedigree and NBA draft hype might be overshadowing other deserving candidates.

Dixon’s season at Villanova has been nothing short of extraordinary. As a senior, he’s putting up video game numbers. Dixon leads the nation, averaging 24.9 points per game. He’s hitting 47% of his three-pointers on seven attempts per game. Dixon’s offensive impact is undeniable as his usage rate is well over 32 and his True Shooting Percentage is well over 65. At 6’8″ and 265lbs, he takes command of the paint while always keeping defense honest with his 3-point shooting.

Despite these jaw-dropping stats, Dixon’s case for National Player of the Year has hurdles. Given Villanova’s middling team success and his “tweener” status in the NBA draft conversation, he’s an underdog compared to Flagg.

Cooper Flagg’s all-round impact pushing him for NPOY

Meanwhile, Flagg’s resume isn’t just about stats—it’s about doing it all. Flagg leads Duke in every major category, averaging 19.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. That’s not just impressive—it’s historic.

More than that, what’s special about him is his versatility. Flagg does it all: he scores efficiently, he dishes out assists, he locks down opponents on defense. Even more, he’s cemented his reputation as one of the most complete players in college basketball because of his ability to play at such a high level across the board.

Flagg’s freshman season isn’t just impressive—it’s legendary. His advanced metrics place him in rare company. His Box Plus/Minus (BPM) of 14.3 ranks third in the NCAA this season. Among freshmen in NCAA history, his BPM is topped only by Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis, and Chet Holmgren. His win shares per 40 minutes rank sixth among freshmen since 2012, putting him alongside names like Karl-Anthony Towns and Zach Collins. These numbers reinforce what many already believe: Flagg isn’t just having a great season—he’s making history.

And then there’s the NBA. Cooper Flagg is widely regarded as the top prospect for the 2025 draft. Scouts rave about his size, basketball IQ, and versatility, especially given he’ll only be 18 on draft day. One NBA executive summed it up: “If he couldn’t score a lick and was just a finisher and transition guy, he’d still be a top-10 pick.”

It’s undeniable that his draft hype adds to his mystique. But as analysts like Dinsick have pointed out, National Player of the Year should be about what happens on the court during the college season—not projections about what might come next.

At the heart of the debate is a bigger question: What truly matters most in crowning the best player in college basketball? Is it team success, statistical dominance, or some combination of both? For Flagg, his all-around brilliance has placed him front and center. For Dixon, it’s his unmatched scoring prowess. And for players like Ace Bailey, raw potential offers a compelling narrative. Who do you think truly deserves the title?