Brad Penner-Imagn Images

ESPN Host Claims Cooper Flagg's Race Will Impact His Career

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 1:42 PM ET

The Dallas Mavericks may have drafted the next face of NBA this week in Duke phenom Cooper Flagg.

During his only season of college basketball, Flagg averaged 19.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Unsurprisingly, he earned the Wooden Award and Naismith Award.

"I think the biggest thing is he's a two-way player," Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison said. "When you watch him play, he plays hard. ... When you have a player that's that good and people talk about the intangibles - they don't talk about basketball - then that's a guy who's going to add to your culture."

While there are plenty of reasons to believe Flagg will shine in the NBA, at least one personality for ESPN claims the Duke star's race will play a factor.

Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Cooper Flagg before the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images© Brad Penner-Imagn Images

During this Friday's episode of "First Take," ESPN Radio host Peter Rosenberg said Flagg could become the NBA's most popular player because he's white.

"Cooper Flagg is a white guy, maybe the best white American prospect since Larry Bird. Right? Let's not act as if we don't live in America and we're not seeing what's happening with Caitlin Clark in the WNBA," Rosenberg said. "Cooper Flagg is going to be an instant impact player in the NBA. He's ready to go. That kid can play right now.

"If he's nearly as good as people expect, I think when it comes to actual intrigue, no one is going to get more eyeballs than what Cooper Flagg is doing in Dallas."

"Cooper Flagg is a white guy, maybe the best white American prospect since Larry Bird. Right? Let's not act as if we don't live in America and we're not seeing what's happening with Caitlin Clark in the WNBA."

- Peter Rosenberg

(via @FirstTake)pic.twitter.com/qYcWZO4urH
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 27, 2025

For what it's worth, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith made similar remarks in May.

"When you’ve got somebody with that kind of potential, and they’re White and you are in America, you keep that dude. I’m telling you right now," Smith said after the Mavericks won the draft lottery.

Some NBA fans have no issue with Rosenberg and Smith's remarks. Others, however, find their words to be highly offensive and disrespectful to Flagg.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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