NBA Execs Say Cooper Flagg Doesn't Compare to Zion or Wemby, May Not Be 'Star' Player

Some NBA executives are reportedly skeptical that likely 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg will develop into a superstar.

According to Howard Beck of The Ringer, one anonymous exec said that while Flagg has a "high chance" of becoming an All-Star, he isn't in the same class as other recent No. 1 overall picks such as Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs or Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans in terms of being a "can't-miss, generational" prospect.

Another executive suggested Flagg may be a "very good" player, but "not a star," while a third said that while Flagg does have "superstar" potential, they aren't sure he'll be a future MVP candidate.

Flagg arrived at Duke last season as the No. 1 recruit in the country, and he didn't disappoint. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, 1.4 steals and 1.4 three-pointers made per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Along with leading the Blue Devils to the Final Four, Flagg won the Naismith Men's College Basketball Player of the Year Award, making him only the fourth freshman ever to accomplish that feat.

Before Flagg, future Basketball Hall of Famers Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis accomplished the feat as freshmen, as did Williamson.

It can be argued that Flagg is about to end up in an ideal situation in the NBA, as the Dallas Mavericks shockingly won the 2025 NBA draft lottery despite having only a 1.8 percent chance to do so.

In some ways, the Mavs became the laughingstock of the NBA this season when they decided to trade Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, but Flagg is set to join a team with two future Hall of Famers in Davis and Kyrie Irving, the latter of whom is coming off a torn ACL.

Because of that, there may not necessarily be pressure on Flagg to be the go-to guy for the Mavs immediately, which could aid in his development.

It is up for debate whether Flagg will be an NBA superstar, but he did things few others ever did as a freshman in college and he will have plenty of talent around him with the Mavericks, so the potential to reach that level is undoubtedly present.