“No emotion!” 17-year-old Cooper Flagg gets high praise from Kevin Durant

A basketball player must be that good to get praise from some of the best in the league. Cooper Flagg has received praise from those who he went up against in the Team USA scrimmage. While Kevin Durant did not have the opportunity to play against the 17-year-old Duke commit, watching from the sidelines gave Durant a different perspective.

Reporter Michael Scotto asked the about to be 4-time Olympian about his opinion of Cooper Flagg. In response, the 2-time NBA Champion said:

I wish I had gone up against him at practice. But watching him from the sideline, he looked like a hell of a player. He’s somebody that’s only going to get better with more experience. He’s 17 years old coming in here playing like he’s a vet almost. No emotion, he's going out there and doing his job. That's a good sign.

Kevin Durant said

That is some high praise from one of the best basketball players in history. But more importantly, it was what Kevin Durant said by observing Flagg that stands out.

The Phoenix Suns superstar mentioned that the Duke Blue Devils commit played like a veteran. That is, play devoid of emotion. It is very hard to control emotion when one is surrounded by some of the best superstars of the game. It is even more difficult to manage it when one plays well against them.

Other players would be hyping themselves up etc. But just as Durant mentioned, Cooper Flagg played like a veteran who does not show emotion. That itself helped him cause some trouble for the superstars.

Cooper Flagg expected to be No. 1 overall pick in 2025

This Team USA scrimmage is not the first time Cooper Flagg entered the limelight. In fact, he was invited to the Select team due to his outstanding performances in the McDonald’s All-American Boys game and his development with the Monteverde Academy. Now after committing to the Duke Blue Devils, the 17-year-old is expected to be a one-and-done player.

Considering all that, he will be the consensus No.1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. That is, unless he suffers a significant injury, or his play drops off. But so far, despite being in his teens, he has shown no major flaws. Standing at 6′ 9″ and with physical attributes that can help him score from every level, he is going to be a major draw for any team.

The impact of Cooper Flagg’s rise has seen NBA teams clear out their buildings in an attempt to tank and have the best odds at winning the NBA Draft lottery. If his performances against some of the best in the world is anything to go buy, he is a player worth throwing away the season for.

In case you missed:

• “Dirtiest player in the NBA hands down!” – Joel Embiid hurting Stephen Curry’s teammate in Team USA practice has fans lighting up the internet
• Steph Curry reiterates commitment to being a ‘Warrior for life’ amidst uncertainty

Stay Updated!

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.

Subscribe NOW