It’s not Cooper Flagg’s fault that he was drafted two years after Victor Wembanyama, so the term “generational talent” has grown stale. In terms of 21st-century prospects, Flagg is right up there with Wembanyama, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson.
Unlike those four players, Flagg was drafted by a Dallas Mavericks team with very real title hopes. After swapping Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, the Mavericks opened up a three-year title window, according to Nico Harrison.
They did not think they would land Flagg. The last top pick to be selected by a “win now” team was Tim Duncan, picked by the San Antonio Spurs in 1997. With a similar situation, Flagg has been compared to Duncan, although, if anything, he will be asked to do even more than the Hall of Famer.
Getty Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks speaks to the media after being drafted first overall during the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25, 2025.
Cooper Flagg Compared to Tim Duncan
The Flagg and Duncan comparisons are not new. In the 1996-97 season, the Spurs won only 20 games thanks to David Robinson missing much of the season with injury. The result was them landing the best player in franchise history.
Between Dirk Nowitzki and Doncic, Flagg has big shoes to fill, and he is expected to be a star right away.
“We haven’t seen a situation like this since the Spurs drafted Tim Duncan,” prefaced Kendrick Perkins on October 1st while appearing on ESPN. “Cooper Flagg is coming into a situation where he’s being drafted to a title contender. And I’m looking at the Mavs to get him ready, use this training camp, use this preseason to get him ready to be a guy that they know could be a scorer, a defender, and play multiple positions, but a primary ball handler.”
Duncan, drafted as a power forward to round out a frontcourt with Robinson, was expected to rebound, score, and defend at a high level. Spacing the floor and facilitating was not his job. Flagg, meanwhile, is truly expected to do a little bit of everything.
Flagg’s Expectations Are Greater Than Duncan’s
When Duncan was 18 years old, he was averaging 9.8 points, 9.6 points, and 3.8 blocks for a Wake Forest team that got bounced in the second round of the NCAA tournament. When Flagg was 17, he was posting 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.8 “stocks.” He also spaced the floor.
For good measure, Flagg won the Wooden Award, the AP Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, and the Naismith Award. He declared for the draft at 18 years old. Duncan, meanwhile, played in college for four years.
Duncan entered the NBA as an All-NBA First-Team player…at 21. Flagg is three years younger. No one is expecting him to play at the level Duncan did in his rookie year, but he is expected to do more.
Duncan shared the floor with Robinson and won 56 games in his rookie season. Robinson was able to protect the rim and bang down low, giving Duncan space to thrive. Flagg, with Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively II will be in a similar spot.
Unlike Duncan, Flagg will be tasked with running point, defending multiple positions, and spacing the floor.
No one expects Flagg to be as good as Duncan to start, but everyone expects him to shoulder a bigger load, and the team’s expectations are just as high.
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