Cooper Flagg calls Michael Jordan the best player of all-time, claims Kawhi Leonard as best defender
At just 17 years old, Cooper Flagg is proving he belongs alongside some of the game's greats. The 6-foot-9 forward impressed during his recent scrimages against the U.S. National Team as they prepare for the Olympics in Paris.
Not much is known about the player who has committed to Duke University, but Flagg recently answered some difficult questions related to the NBA, WNBA and how he prepares for games.
In a recent interview with Slam, Flagg went through a round of rapid fire questions and provided some interesting responses. The Maine native named Micheal Jordan as the greatest player of all-time and Kawhi Leonard as the best defender.
"Reporter: Best NBA player of all time? Flagg: Michael Jordan. He's the GOAT."
"Reporter: Best WNBA player of all time? Flagg: Sue Bird"
"Reporter: Best basketball team of all time? Flagg: 1985/86 Celtics"
"Reporter: Best defender of all time? Flagg: Kawhi Leonard"
"Reporter: Best coach of all time? Flagg: Gregg Popovich"
Basketball fans have seen plenty of footage of Cooper Flagg on the court and there is no doubting he is an exceptional talent. It appears he is also extremely knowledgeable about the game and it's history.
Aside from mentioning Michael Jordan and Kawhi Leonard as two of the best, Flagg named San Antonio Spurs legendary coach Gregg Popovich as the greatest coach in history. The 75-year-old has racked up five championships and has been the league's Coach of the Year on three occasions.
The young forward provided his views on the women's game as well and selected Sue Bird as the greatest player of all time. Bird was named to the All-Star Game 13 times and won four championships with the Seattle Storm.
Flagg showed off that he is well informed on the history of the league by naming the 1985/86 Boston Celtics as the greatest team in NBA history. That team was littered with Hall of Famers including Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, Robert Parish and Bill Walton. They went on to win the 1986 championship, defeating the Houston Rockets in six games.
Cooper Flagg was the nation's top high school prospect in 2024 and has committed to Duke
Cooper Flagg's performances with the Select Team against the USA National team have substantiated claims that he was the top high school player in the country this year. Per 247Sports, Flagg was ranked the top prospect in the 2024 class.
There were a long list of schools interested in the rising star but Flagg eventually signed a letter of intent to Duke University on Nov. 8 and enrolled at the school in June.