Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has been widely heralded as the most well-rounded No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft since Victor Wembanyama (2023) and LeBron James (2003), an assessment Blake Griffin agrees with.
Griffin, the No. 1 overall pick in 2009, took it a step further by calling Flagg the most talented rookie he had seen in years, possibly even more gifted than Wemby.
“I think he’s the most complete player that we’ve seen come into the NBA in recent memory,” Griffin said of Flagg, via NBA Analysis.net.
“I mean, I’m not saying he doesn’t have room to grow. He still has a ton of room to grow, but I mean, he passes, he shoots, he defends, he rebounds, he seems like a great teammate, he seems like a great kid. What’s the red flag?”
Is Flagg Better Than Wemby?
Griffin felt that Flagg may have an edge over Wemby due to his ability to play and guard multiple positions. While Wemby has also shown the ability to play both center and power forward, he may lack the agility to play the perimeter spots, unlike Flagg.
“It is really exciting for basketball to have players like these young guys,” Griffin said.
“I mean, even Wemby is very complete as well, but Cooper is just able to play so many different positions, guard so many different positions. That’s exciting.”
The Clippers legend also felt that Flagg has the advantage of walking into a Mavericks team full of veterans, which includes Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. Historically, No. 1 overall picks walk into teams that are in a rebuilding phase, but Flagg could be competing for an NBA title as a rookie.
Cooper Flagg Enters Ideal Situation
“I also love this in Dallas. I think they have a really solid team around them,” Griffin said of the loaded Mavericks roster that added D’Angelo Russell in free agency.
“Most number one picks are going to teams that haven’t been doing too great in the past, but I’m just excited for him to start this journey. I don’t know if I have advice. I mean, it just seems like kid’s got it figured out.”
LeBron James, much like Griffin and Wemby, walked into a rebuilding situation when he went No. 1 overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. James missed the playoffs in his first two seasons before finally getting a taste of the postseason.
Speaking on the “Mind the Game” podcast, James echoed Griffin’s sentiments about Flagg walking into the perfect situation to hone his craft.
“He has the benefit, unlike myself, he gets to join a team that’s established with Hall of Fame guys — Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving — right off the bat,” James said of Flagg, via ESPN. “Hall of Fame coach, Jason Kidd. You know, these guys are like, they can give him the whole blueprint while he continues to learn what his blueprint will be.”
“I think that will be an incredible thing to have that type of presence, that type of leadership, that type of just basketball IQ and knowledge around him every single day from those pieces. So, I think he’s going to be amazing.”
Flagg is the overwhelming favorite to win Rookie of the Year.
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