Paul George made high remarks on his podcast this week about future NBA prospect Cooper Flagg, praising Flagg’s talent and hard work. George and his guest compared the future Duke college player to a former NBA player who also possessed great skill and talent. Are the expectations on Flagg too soon? Has he earned all the praise? Let’s see what George and his guest have to say.
Paul George Pays Homage to NBA Prospect on Podcast
Paul George Highlights Cooper Flagg
The comparison game can be a shifty avenue of stacking future players against past players in any sport. Regarding the NBA, player comparisons are more common than ever. Given the current era and the greatness of past ones, you can’t fault the conversation. Paul George tackled this subject, and a future first-round NBA draft pick, this week on his podcast, Podcast P with Paul George, with guest Jared McCain, the former Duke college player.
The player in question here is Cooper Flagg. Flagg still needs to start his college journey, never mind his professional one. Yet, the 17-year-old talent out of Newport, Maine, has managed to cause waves going back to last summer amongst NBA players. Flagg shared the court with Team USA while the squad conducted their pre-Olympic training camp in Las Vegas earlier this summer. What a feat for the soon-to-be Duke Blue Devil.
On the podcast, George and company discussed Flagg’s potential and immense talent coming out of high school. McCain stressed the importance of refraining from heaping too many expectations on Flagg by engaging in a comparison scenario—which seems totally rational.
Flagg vs Michael Beasley
The player on the other side of this comparison conversation is Michael Beasley, the former 11-year NBA player. Beasley was the second overall draft pick of the Miami Heat in 2008. He averaged 12.4 points in his career and came into the 2008 draft carrying massive talent and skill. Kevin Durant has often complimented Beasley, going so far as to compare Beasley’s talent level with that of LeBron James. However, as Paul George and McCain allude to, it wasn’t Beasley’s lack of skill that earned him “bust” status from many in the NBA and outside media pundits. It came down to his work ethic and off-the-court behavior.
It’s Beasley’s size, skill, and talent that George enters the comparison topic into the fold.
“He’s kind of got a little Michael Beasley,” George explained. “At that size, can score, can play make, super talented, just a game changer.”
Whether Beasley was a bust or not, he didn’t meet overall expectations. Neither did he reach his potential as an NBA player. Neither of those knocks takes away from Beasley’s pure, raw talent as a basketball player.
“I don’t think people speak enough about how good Michael Beasley was, or is. I still see clips, to this day, of him doing crazy [expletive] online,” George continued.
Flagg’s NBA Potential
As for Flagg, George expressed his love for the coveted prospect. Flagg has also earned the respect and praise of other NBA players as well. LeBron James spoke highly of his performance in Las Vegas. Kevin Durant has also chimed in and referred to Flagg as “a hell of a player.”
“I think the world of Cooper Flagg,” George said. “I think he got the ultimate game.”
The future Blue Devil will have his biggest opportunity yet to showcase his skill, talent, and basketball abilities when the NCAA season kicks off in October.
