Cooper Flagg's stock undermined as anonymous ex-NBA executive compares his ceiling to Russian legend: "Shooting stroke doesn't look great"
Looking ahead to the 2025 NBA draft, Cooper Flagg has already started to garner a lot of buzz. While many are high on his potential, there is still one area of his game that needs to come along.
Flagg's stock went up even more this summer following a short stint with the Team USA select team. He partook against the 2024 Olympics roster, and many were impressed by how he performed against the star-studded roster.
In a recent 2025 mock draft, scouts and executives shared their thoughts on Cooper Flagg. They compared him to longtime NBA forward Andrei Kirilenko and touched on how his jump shot is a key area of improvement.
“Many scouts have compared Flagg to Kirilenko, and I think that’s a fair assessment,” an NBA executive told HoopsHype. “I think he’ll eventually be a good second or third option on a really good NBA team. His shooting stroke doesn’t look great right now, but he makes a ton and he’s not afraid to take them at his size."
Flagg is a versatile 6-foot-8 forward with a wingspan of over seven feet. Before becoming eligible for the 2025 draft, he'll be playing in college next season at Duke.
Kirilenko isn't a bad comparison, as he went on to have a successful NBA career. He played 13 seasons and was a one-time All-Star while being named to three All-Defense teams. Kirilenko is most known for his time with the Utah Jazz.
NBA head coach praises Cooper Flagg following Team USA stint
As mentioned earlier, Cooper Flagg turned a lot of heads during his short stint with Team USA. Despite facing off against NBA talents like LeBron James and Jayson Tatum, the 17-year-old looked like the best player on the floor at times.
Following his impressive play in the Team USA scrimmages, Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley shared his thoughts on Cooper Flagg. He had nothing but positive things to say about the young forward's game.
“He’s a special young man,” said Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley, who coached the select team. “His talent level, his basketball IQ, his level of toughness, not afraid of those moments, protect the rim, make the right play, make the right read. He had all that.”
Still a year away from the draft, Flagg is widely regarded as the top prospect in his class. With his ability to do just about everything on the floor at his size, he is built to thrive in the modern NBA.
For now, all Flagg can do is continue to refine his game at the college level. If he dominates at Duke like he did in high school, it's very likely he'll be the first name called on draft night.