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Steve Lappas makes lofty comp for Cooper Flagg: 'He's an athletic Larry Bird'

On3 imageby:Sam Gillenwater•04/06/25•

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Cooper Flagg, Larry Bird
Robert Deutsch | Imagn Images - Imagn Images

With the freshman season over for Duke’s Cooper Flagg, the focus will now turn to his pro career. That starts with the latest comparison for him to an all-time great in the association.

On CBS Sports Network on Saturday at the Final Four in San Antonio, Steve Lappas broke down Flagg’s game. That included a comparison for him to Larry Bird, the Hall of Famer for the Boston Celtics.

“I mean, an incredible season for him,” Lappas said. “The thing about him that’s intriguing to me is he handles the ball like he’s six-foot tall. I mean, he has a tremendous inside-out dribble. He had a couple dribble moves in the game yesterday that were just unbelievable. That reverse layup? He can shoot threes.”

“I liken him, I say he’s an athletic Larry Bird. He’s much more athletic than Larry Bird is but he’s got that kind of skill,” said Lappas. “I’m not saying he’s going to be Larry Bird but, you know what, he’s got a chance. I’m gonna say that.”

Flagg finished his freshman year averaging 19.2 points (48.1% FG, 38.5% 3PT), 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game. That led a Blue Devil team that went 35-4 overall, in winning the ACC and making the Final Four, in each of those statistical categories. He also was voted as a Consensus All-American as well as AP Player of the Year and the winner of the Wooden Award. That’ll further justify him as the No. 1 pick for the 2025 NBA Draft by far.

Still, that season came to an end on Saturday with a 70-67 loss to Houston. The Cougars came back from 14 down with just over eight minutes to go, with a foul on him and a missed jump shot by him being key moments in the final twenty seconds, to advance to the national championship. That’s despite 27 points (42.1% FG, 75% 3PT), seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals in another all-around outing from Flagg, regardless of if it was or wasn’t his final college game.

Flagg has a lot of game that’ll translate to the next level. He’ll now hope to have any kind of similar career to a player like Bird whenever he gets to the NBA.