Seth Greenberg declares Cooper Flagg will be No. 1 pick in NBA Draft: 'He is who we thought he was'

Duke’s Cooper Flagg has long been projected as the top overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He has lived up to every bit of that too with what he has done in Durham.

During ‘Get Up’ on Friday, Seth Greenberg broke Flagg down ahead of the regular-season finale of his freshman year with the Blue Devils this weekend in Chapel Hill. He said he is exactly the player and prospect that many thought he would be at the college level with how he affects the game in every single way on both sides of the floor.

“He is who we thought he was,” Greenberg said. “He started the season as a 17-year-old freshman, graduated a year early. He leads Duke in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. He’s a six-foot, nine-inch point forward. He affects the game with his range – his defensive range, his ability to block shots. Offensively, you can run your offense through him. Defensive rebounding, he’s pushing it in transition. Shoots the three at only 38%, which is terrific. His feel, his IQ? He impacts the game every single time down the floor.”

“He is who we thought he was,” said Greenberg. “He’s a dominant player, the Player of the Year, and, more importantly, a guy that can absolutely take over a game – not anytime, just when he wants to. That’s the thing that makes him so interesting to me is that he lets the game come to him. His IQ is ridiculous but he impacts winning every single time down the floor.”

Flagg is averaging 19.6 points (49.7% FG, 38.2% 3PT), 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks overall. That has him among the leading scorers nationally and as one of the most impactful players in the sport based on total stats as well player efficiency, win shares, and box plus-minus when he’s on the floor. It’ll also have him right there in contention for Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year, both in the ACC and in the NCAA, as well as First-Team as All-ACC and All-American.

With that, Flagg essentially has it all as one of the top prospects in recent memory at the collegiate level. That’s why, come June, Greenberg agrees that he’ll go No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft considering how his game would fit in the pros.

“He is (a sure-fire at No. 1 overall) to me,” Greenberg stated. “You think about the NBA now, you think about position-less basketball? Six-nine, seven-foot wingspan. Point forward. You can run your offense through him. Defensive rebounding, can initiate your fast break. You can put him in a ball screen. And, defensively, he’s position-less so you can switch short-clock. He can guard multiple positions. He rebounds the basketball. He’s 18 years old. The only thing he’s missing right now is strength. As his body matures, all of a sudden now, you have a six-foot-nine dominant player that can impact the game on both sides.”

“To me, he is the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft,” said Greenberg. “There are other guys – Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, very good players. But, to me, Flagg, as an 18-year-old, what he’s doing, how he’s impacting winning, his feel, his IQ, his skill? To me, he’s the No. 1 pick.”

Flagg still has one game left before further making his name in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. Then, two months later or so, that name will be the first off the board in the NBA Draft.

Greenberg compares Cooper Flagg, names two iconic players from Duke

Seth Greenberg is a huge fan of Cooper Flagg. The analyst proved so by making some lofty comparisons for the Blue Devil freshman on ‘Get Up’ on Friday.

When trying to find a parallel for Flagg in the NBA, Greenberg mentioned some big-time names. He sees a bit of Jayson Tatum, Grant Hill, and Scottie Pippen in the breakdown of his game.

“He’s got a little Jayson Tatum in his game. He’s got a little Grant Hill in his game. He’s got a little Scottie Pippen in his game,” Greenberg proclaimed. “You’re talking about a 6′9″ guy that you could run your offense through. You’re talking about a 6′9″ guy that can defend multiple positions. You’re talking about a 6′9″ guy that has a ridiculously high basketball IQ.

“We’re talking about a 6′9″ guy that’s 18-years old, and just scratching the surface. His IQ, his feel, his versatility offensively and defensively — I think Tatum, I think Grant Hill, and I think Scottie Pippen.”