NBA Rumors: Excitement for Cooper Flagg Is ’14 out of 10′ After Team USA Scrimmages

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVJuly 16, 2024

Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images

Let the 2025 NBA draft watch begin.

While the largely underwhelming 2024 draft didn’t move the needle much outside of Bronny James, who is the son of the legendary LeBron James, entering the league, the potential No. 1 pick of the next draft is already turning heads around the league.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe noted on his podcast (54:15 mark) that a number of NBA executives were in attendance to watch the Team USA scrimmages that involved Cooper Flagg and came away fired up about the youngster’s potential.

“If the excitement for Cooper Flagg was at a 10 out of 10 going into those scrimmages, it’s at like a 14 out of 10 coming out of them,” Lowe said. “You cannot overstate the degree to which that is impacting the league already.”

He explained that some non-contenders are hesitant to make trades right now that would incrementally improve their rosters out of fear the additional wins would decrease their chances of landing Flagg in the next draft.

For now, the forward is heading to Duke as the focal point of the No. 1 overall recruiting class for the 2024 cycle, per 247Sports’ composite rankings.

But he is already No. 1 overall on the 2025 big board from Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman and impacting approaches at the next level.

“The 2024 draft cycle didn’t have an obvious No. 1 prospect,” Wasserman wrote. “2025’s will. Cooper Flagg has evolved into one of the most hyped prospects of the decade with a skill level that’s starting to catch his special athleticism, passing IQ and defensive instincts.”

The next big star may only be a year away from taking the NBA by storm.