December is here and already conversations about the National Player of the Year have begun. With Auburn, Marquette, and UConn dominating as usual, Duke has also slipped its way in, thanks to star freshman Cooper Flagg. But never mind how impressive the 17-year-old all-rounder has been, analysts have a different name for who’ll grab the Naismith honor this year.

On The Field of 68: After Dark, John Fanta and Tyler Hansbrough discuss the NPOY race and for Hansbrough, the frontrunner is Auburn’s Johni Broome.

“I think Auburn – you gotta credit them right now, they won the Maui Invitational, they’ve had key wins. Houston is a big win against them. He’s averaging 20 (points), close to 12 (rebounds), and 3 assists. And also, he’s playing highly efficient basketball. If you watch him play, it’s not like he’s forcing up shots or chasing stats. I think he plays within the game and right now, I think he’s playing the best of anybody.”

Named an AP preseason All-American player, Broome became the first Auburn player to do so since 1999. Bleacher Report analyst Jonathan Wasserman even named him in a mock draft for the Washington Wizards praising his improving three-pointers, passing skill, and defensive presence.

Next, he named Kam Jones, valued at $2 million for NIL per On3, as a player who could come close to Broome, claiming he was “one of my favorite players to watch.” Currently, the senior guard is averaging 20 points on 58.6% shooting with 4.7 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. 

“I think Kam Jones is a guy who impacts the game in other areas, just away from scoring. I think defensively, just the way he moves and controls a game outside of scoring is just incredible and he deserves a lot of credit.”

But later in the podcast, the conversation moves to the Duke standout, who former Blue Devil and popular broadcaster Jay Bilas compared to Kevin Durant last week after also naming LeBron James. Where Bilas praised him for his maturity, which is not often seen in 17-year-olds, Hansbrough had a different thought.

“To me, KD is a much better Iso scorer even though they have a similar build, and Cooper Flagg impacts the game in other areas that KD doesn’t, he’s not an Iso scorer like KD,” the former NBA player concluded. Durant is one of the best players who can create isolation and attack his defenders dominatingly. However, we have not yet seen much of a similar playing style when it comes to Flagg.

How each of these players now fare in the season and who ultimately grabs the NPOY remains to be seen. But Flagg and Durant have another connection, where the NBA player couldn’t help but praise the up-and-coming star.

Kevin Durant on “veteran” Cooper Flagg

Cooper Flagg and Kevin Durant almost had a chance to play together in a scrimmage when Team USA vs. Team Select in July. But the Suns star missed out due to an injury; nevertheless, he did see the then-Duke commit in action and was left impressed by the projected No. 1 Draft pick.

“He looked like a he– of a player. Somebody that’s going to only get better with more experience. 17 years old coming in here playing like he’s a vet almost. No emotion. Just going out there and doing his job. That’s a good sign,” KD gushed.

Even Kevin Garnett labeled him as having as having “superstar potential.” For Boston Celtics fan Flagg, it was a huge compliment, and he called it “surreal.” Apart from KD other veterans of the NBA like LeBron James too have praised the then-high schooler as he locked horns against Team USA before they flew out to Paris.

It’s only his freshman year at college and averaging a decent 15.9 points and 8.9 rebounds on 42.9% shooting from the field but the possibilities are endless. What he is expected to achieve and the reputation he will establish four years from now and then in the NBA, Cooper Flagg is going to have a great many other compliments from big names to bear.