The Cooper Flag has been recognized by many as one of the most talented and number one picks these days.
Shortly after high school, Cooper Flag had a big D1 offer, but he decided to join Duke.
Even before he stepped into NBA courthouses, Flagg was a known name among NBA players due to his performance on the US Select Team in 2024 Olympic practices.
He performed brilliantly in college and was selected by the Dallas Mavericks as the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
His game was great on both offensive and defensive endings on the floor, so it was expected to make a smooth transition into the league.
But after Bronnie James’ debut Summer League game with the La Lakers, NBA experts chose what Flag really needs to work on.
Flagg scored 10 points, grabbed six boards and three steals in a game against the Lakers.
Kyrie Irving praised him after his performance, but the number one pick himself wasn’t satisfied with his output.
Flag shot only 5-21 from the field and went without acquiring a 3-pointer all night.
Tim Legler was one of many presents to see Flag working, analysing how the game thought he hadn’t worked for the former Duke player.
Speaking about all the NBA podcasts, the former player said:
“So, is it easy to fix? You have to stop turning your wrists. To be honest with you, I don’t know.
“He’s only 18 years old, but they have to see the same thing I see. He’s picking the number one pick and the people you know might be in the Hall of Fame.
“But that means he absolutely needs to get it because if he doesn’t do that he’ll be a 30-point shooter with a low 20-second 30-second.”
A single game doesn’t show what Flagg can do as a player, but Legler’s analysis is certainly something the player can tackle.
The 18-year-old shot 38.5% in the NCAA Tournament over the ARC, but the NBA’s three-point line is a bit different to college.
Flagg is physically guarded and not given many open shots. In other words, he has to make the most of his opportunities.
If he continues filming with the wrong technique, Flagg may have an efficiency problem.
But he is a teammate of Klay Thompson, one of the best shooters in the NBA.
In addition to being a great player, Thompson can also be a great coach for Flag.
The rookie struggles with efficiency at times, but Flag has some great teammates around him. That’s something even LeBron James pointed out.
The four-time champion has one of the best shooting forms in the league. That’s how Flag can learn a lot.
If he listens to his teammates and can adapt well to his instructions, there’s no doubt that he will be one of the best players in the coming years.