Cooper Flag has an NBA title—and a bit of skepticism surrounding him.
Tony Allen, a former Celtics NBA champion and a first-team All-Defense honoree, has been weighing in on upcoming draft predictions. He doesn’t seem to share the same optimism about Flag as others do.
Allen has openly questioned the potential of the top draft prospects to really transform teams. “I don’t think Cooper Flag will turn your franchise around like that,” he remarked, mentioning it in a recent video. “I mean, I’m not seeing him in the same light as Kevin Durant.”
Instead, he likened Flag to Andrei Kirilenko, suggesting, “That’s who I’m seeing.”
He further commented, “He’s going to be an All-Star someday. But, to be honest, I’m just not seeing it.”
There’s obviously a significant difference between Durant and Kirilenko in terms of their careers, but both achieved notable success in the league.
Durant was the second overall pick in the 2007 draft and is often considered one of the greatest players ever. Kirilenko, on the other hand, was the 24th pick in the 1999 draft and enjoyed a solid 13-season career.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks recently won the 2025 NBA Draft lottery despite having only a 1.8% chance. They’re expected to select Cooper Flag with their first pick.
They’re definitely hoping that he’ll make a bigger impact than Kirilenko, especially as they look to revamp their roster following a significant trade involving Luka Doncic.
During his 14-season NBA career, Allen was known for his defensive prowess and competed against both Durant and Kirilenko.
He was a valuable member of the Boston Celtics’ championship team in 2008 and has been recognized on six all-defense teams.
Allen has made three first-team All-Defense selections in his career and has been among the top 10 defensive players multiple times.
As for Cooper Flag, the 6-foot-9 Duke University standout averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 48.1% from the field, 38.5% from three-point range, and 84% from the free-throw line.
