“I am so excited to see what he can do” – Grant Hill believes Cooper Flagg couldn’t be in a better spot to thrive as a No. 1 pick
Grant Hill expects nothing but greatness from Cooper Flagg.
All eyes are on Cooper Flagg this season, and Grant Hill thinks there’s no better place for the 2025 first overall pick to start his NBA journey. According to Hill, Flagg won’t have to force anything with the Dallas Mavericks, thanks to the veteran presence around him.
“I think he’s in a great spot. First of all, I love Dallas, I love that he’s got some good, talented players around him,” Hill said on “The Dan Patrick Show.” “For him to go to a team that has been to the Finals, that has playoff expectations… It’s a great environment.”
“But, hey, just go out there, compete, have fun. The weight of the world is on your shoulders. You got a great coach in Jason (Kidd), who I think would utilize him, put the ball in his hands, take advantage of his versatility. I’m so excited to see what he can do,” added the USA Basketball managing director.
Grant compares himself to Cooper
Both products of Duke, Hill may see shades of himself in Flagg — long, athletic forwards who impact the game in multiple ways. Still, Hill believes Cooper is positioned to succeed right away thanks to the veteran talent around him in Dallas.
In contrast, “G-Money” had to endure losing for a year before turning things around.
“My four years at Duke it was all about winning championships, now you go into an environment. You just pick up bad habits. What ends up happening is you start to settle in to losing habits. Just one year in a bad environment — went from 20 wins to 28 my rookie year. Big improvement,” Hill sarcastically stated.
As Grant recalled, Doug Collins changed the Pistons’ culture, leading them back to the playoffs after a three-year absence. It was a needed change, but not without its challenges. After all, years of losing had left behind some residue, the kind of instincts and habits that needed scrubbing.
Luckily for Flagg, he’s not walking into that kind of mess. Kyrie Irving could be out for all of next season after an ACL injury. However, the Mavericks still have D’Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, and Anthony Davis. Thompson and AD alone have five championships and 15 All-Star appearances between them.
As Hill said, Cooper is in good hands.
Flagg has superstar written all over him
Maine native may not be tasked with saving a franchise in Year 1, but the expectations are still sky-high. Scouts have likened him to Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Pippen and fellow Duke product Jayson Tatum. Others see shades of Andre Kirilenko, a nod to Flagg’s defensive versatility.
Whatever he becomes, Hill is positive that Flagg can handle heightened expectations.
“Cooper has handled the pressure so well,” Hill adds, “and it’s remarkable at a young age. Last summer, we brought him in (at USA Basketball) and I was a little worried that it might be too much for him… We brought him in with the Select Team, and on Day 2, he was one of the best players on the court. He had no fear; he was going at these guys.”
Although Hill was quick to pump the brakes about the effort level of the NBA superstars Flagg played against, it’s also a testament to how far along he has been in his development. He may not be the most polished scorer on the floor, but he makes plays on the defensive end that translate to wins.
With veteran guidance, a stable system, and no pressure to rescue a franchise, the young forward enters the league with rare support for a top pick. He may have superstar comparisons and sky-high expectations, but as Hill sees it, what matters most is that Flagg is in the right environment to grow.
