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ESPN analysts debate Cooper Flagg legacy, lack of clutch moments

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby:Grant Grubbs•04/07/25•

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Duke F Cooper Flagg
Vincent Carchietta | Imagn Images

With 17 seconds remaining and trailing Houston 68-67, Duke put the ball in Cooper Flagg‘s hands. The AP National Player of the Year drove the rock deep into the Cougars’ defense before spinning back toward the middle of the lane and elevating over Houston’s J’Wan Roberts.

The shot left his hand the same way it has thousands of times before. But, this time, it fell short and Houston came up with the rebound, effectively ending the game. During an appearance on First Take on Monday, ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg weighed in on how the missed shot will affect Flagg’s legacy at Duke.

“His legacy is going to be basically — generational player, but couldn’t make the big shot at the end of the game,” Greenberg said. “Incredible career, terrific game, but in the end, Houston did a lot of good things to put him into that situation as well.”

Despite missing the potentially game-winning shot in the Final Four, Flagg was still spectacular in the loss. He finished the game with a game-high 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks while shooting 8-19 from the field and 3-4 from downtown.

Flagg’s freshman season is already considered one of the best ever for a first-year player and he is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft. While Stephen A. Smith emphasized his respect for Flagg’s game, he also pointed out a fault in the young star’s season.

“I want to bring this one point up about Cooper Flagg, who I believe is a generational talent,” Smith said. “… But I feel obligated to bring this up. He missed that shot in the lane against Roberts. The ball was in his hands. Scheyer, what does he do? He said, ‘Give Cooper Flagg the rock and move the hell out of the way.’

“He’s done that three other times this year. It was against Kentucky, it was against Kansas, it was against Clemson — [Flagg] came up short each time. We have to remember that while we celebrate Flagg and his greatness, there were four different occasions this year when he was asked to close and he didn’t.”

Cooper Flagg will have plenty of opportunities to make clutch shots at the next level. The NBA Draft will take place on June 25. Flagg’s name is almost unanimously expected to be the first one called on draft night.