We’ve been tracking people’s Cooper Flagg takes since late last season and now that he’s officially in the NBA, with the Dallas Mavericks, there’s still plenty of time for people to register their opinions.
We’ve noticed an amusing divergence between basketball writers, who seem more skeptical, and former NBA players and coaches who, for the most part, have been much more positive. Our sense is that you have to pay more attention to the guys who have been in the arena (pun intended).
Even so, it’s
nice to see a writer, in this case Will Miller from The Smoking Cuban (a funny if outdated name), who has gotten a sense of who Flagg is and he sort of gently chides some of the more critical takes:
“Many fans and analysts think [ballhandling] could hinder Dallas’ potential next season, even if it will be beneficial for Flagg’s development in the long run, but the people in this crowd could be negating just how much of an electric force Flagg is going to bring right out the gate, as he has day-one star written all over him…The reason Flagg can be a star right from the jump is that he does all the little things to affect winning.”
He goes on to talk about Flagg’s remarkable work ethic and also that he’s a quick decision maker.
Miller is also smart enough to distinguish between high athleticism and an aptitude for basketball. Plenty of more talented players have come and gone, with some barely getting a cup of coffee.
Flagg’s relentlessness, unusual at any age not least of all 18, is going to take him a long way.
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