"He is raw talent" - 10x NBA All-Star outlines why Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey are on different trajectories
There's a lot of debate on which is the better player between Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey. The two youngsters are considered the best players in the 2025 draft class, with many believing Flagg will land with the Dallas Mavericks in June, while Bailey won't be far behind him in the draft.
On Monday's episode of "Podcast P with Paul George," the Philadelphia 76ers star welcomed former star Carmelo Anthony as a guest. The two former teammates talked about the difference between Flagg and Bailey. The 10-time All-Star believes the two players have different trajectories in their careers.
"We've seen Ace before, that's why he's not talked about like that. We've seen PG, we've seen KG, we've seen T-Mac, we've seen Melos... that's why he's not talked about," Anthony said (38:09).
"We haven't seen a white boy like that in a long f**king time time... When was the last one that's homegrown?
George added that the last player, like Cooper Flagg, was former Boston Celtics star Larry Bird. Since then, no other white player has come close to being as good as Bird, who was hyped even when he was in high school.
Then, Anthony displayed the difference between the two prospects. The former New York Knicks star said Flagg looks like a player ready to contribute and win at the highest level.
Ace Bailey, however, needs time to sharpen his craft, but he has the upside to be one of the best players.
"Cooper is polished... Ace is raw, he is the raw talent," he added.
Fans are excited to see where Cooper Flagg will land in June. There have been rumors that the Mavericks could make a trade using the No. 1 pick. However, a report states that Dallas plans to draft the young star.
Former NBA player sees Andrei Kirilenko in Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg has been compared to numerous players. Because of his ability to play an all-around brand of basketball, many have compared him to someone who can display a similar style on the court.
Former NBA player Tony Allen mentioned a specific player he sees as comparable to Flagg. However, before comparing, Allen criticized the Duke star and said he doesn't think the 6-foot-9 forward can turn a franchise around.
Per the former Memphis Grizzlies guard, he doesn't see a player like Kevin Durant in Flagg. Instead, he sees Andrei Kirilenko, the former one-time All-Star.
Allen said Cooper Flagg's maximum comparison is the former Utah Jazz star and that he'd be a one-time All-Star. The 2008 NBA champion said he isn't big on players who come out of Duke.