NBA Legend Carmelo Anthony Sends Unexpected Cooper Flagg Message

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated May 27, 2025 8:34 PM ET

Cooper Flagg, the standout freshman from Duke University, is widely projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft, scheduled for June 25. The Dallas Mavericks, who secured the top pick despite only a 1.8% chance in the lottery, are expected to select Flagg as they rebuild their roster following the high-profile trade of Luka Doncic

Flagg's freshman season at Duke was nothing short of remarkable. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, leading the Blue Devils to a 35-4 record and a Final Four appearance. His performance earned him numerous accolades, including the Associated Press Player of the Year, making him only the fourth freshman in history to achieve this distinction.

Despite the widespread acclaim, NBA legend and former Los Angeles Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony recently shared a more tempered evaluation of Flagg's game during an appearance on Paul George's "Podcast P."

Anthony remarked, "Coop is nice. We haven't seen in a while somebody dominate. I'm really high on his game. To me, he doesn't do anything great. He just does a lot of [expletive] really good."

"Coop is nice. We haven't seen in a while someone dominate. To me, he doesn't do anything great. He just does a lot of sh*t really good."

Carmelo Anthony on Cooper Flagg ️

(via @PodcastPShow)pic.twitter.com/QBjANSSRI4
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 27, 2025

Given how many rate Flagg as a franchise-altering talent, this was an unexpected take from Anthony, although not one he seemingly meant as a slight.

Anthony, a 10-time NBA All-Star and one of the league's all-time leading scorers, last played for the Lakers before retiring. While some may view his assessment as critical, it goes to show the high standards and expectations placed on Flagg ahead of his rookie NBA season.

As the draft approaches, teams and analysts will continue to scrutinize Flagg's game, balancing his impressive collegiate achievements with projections of his potential impact at the professional level.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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