We Compare Cooper Flagg with the Last Great Number 1 Picks in the NBA Draft
Everything points to Duke's talent being the first to shake hands with Adam Silver when the franchise in the best position can choose
Comparing young talents who have not yet debuted in the NBA is more subjective, as scouts and teams inevitably value different things. It's not fair to put Cooper Flagg, or anyone for that matter, on the same level as French star Victor Wembanyama, whom the San Antonio Spurs selected as the number 1 pick in the 2023 draft.
Scouts viewed Wembanyama as a unique prospect, one of a kind in a generation, due to his blend of physical, skill, and mental traits. And those evaluators proved to be right when Wembanyama was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, getting 99 out of 100 first-place votes.
Scouts are more willing to compare Flagg with other top picks, citing the simple fact that he has already clinched the consensual top spot in this class, which is not always the case in every draft. The 2024 draft, in which most believe Flagg would have gone first if eligible, lacked a clear-cut top prospect. The selection of Anthony Edwards as the number 1 pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2020 draft seems much simpler in hindsight, but at that time, LaMelo Ball and James Wiseman were part of the discussion.
Referring to previous number 1 picks, including Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans in 2019), Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons in 2021), and Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks in 2024), a Western Conference executive said: "At this stage, Flagg is probably a level below Wemby, maybe even below Zion, but on par with Cunningham and ahead of the likes of Edwards, Risacher, those guys in drafts where we weren't sure who was going to go 1."
"Wemby was a different physical specimen, Zion was an athlete on another level. Flagg falls short. I say Cade because it was a year where it was taken for granted he'd be the number 1, with some caveats. Flagg is one of the most impressive second-tier prospects I can think of."
Comparison with other number 1 picks
Although Flagg doesn't possess the uncommon physical skills that historically set apart top-tier prospects like Wembanyama and Williamson, his range of traits stacks up well and has still solidified his number 1 status, according to experts.
"I don't think he's a generational type, I think that word starts to get thrown around too much," said another executive. "But when you look back at this draft, if he goes at 1, regardless of whether others end up better, no one's going to say that was a bad pick."
Ultimately, some of these labels are just semantics, but his consistency and reliability have become determining factors, creating the belief he will make the most of his talent. Apart from Wembanyama, the only recent number 1 picks whose defensive impact exceeded their offensive impact were Ben Simmons (number 1 in 2016 for the Philadelphia 76ers) and Anthony Davis (number 1 in 2012 for New Orleans).
A different executive stated no reservations about Flagg's ability to make an impact at the next level: "He's as NBA-ready as any of the guys from the last 10 drafts, if not more. The physique is there. He's a blank canvas."
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Comparamos a Cooper Flagg con los últimos grandes números 1 del NBA Draft
