"They don't need to go to college" - Kevin Garnett on how Cooper Flagg could've made the leap to the NBA straight out of high school
The NBA has prohibited players from entering the league right out of high school since 2006 after a negotiation with the Players’ Association. However, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce believe Cooper Flagg is one such talent with the maturity and skill set to overcome this restriction.
Garnett's praise for Cooper Flagg
The most impressive attribute of Flagg’s ascension has been his continued growth and improvement despite getting the highest recognition. From the moment he registered a place in the All-Tournament Team at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup after averaging 9.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game for Team USA, the 6’9” forward knew that the honor of being the youngest to be named USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year should be his first stepping stone.
Cooper continued to work extremely hard, as evidenced by his averages of 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game in his final year of high school basketball for Montverde Academy. Moreover, he led the Eagles to their eighth national championship.
If that wasn’t impressive enough, when invited to compete against the modern-day greats in their build-up to the 2024 Paris Olympic campaign, Cooper showcased his talent against the best. From using his frame to attack the rim to implying his fast feat to knock step-back three-pointers, Cooper was one of the most eye-catching players. As a result, before he even played his first game for Duke, the forward signed a shoe deal with New Balance.
Reflecting on these qualities, "The Big Ticket" and Paul Pierce agreed that Flagg would be prepared and skilled enough to jump directly to the NBA without needing the collegiate warm-up if the rule didn't exist.
“Before you had guys and the argument was that - some guys couldn’t play (in the NBA) straight out of high school. Not the case today,” Garnett said. “Some of these kids I’m watching now, I’m like, ‘They don’t need to go to college.’ He (Cooper Flagg) didn’t. AJ Dybansta… he’s another problem right now. Why we waitin’?”
The Duke experience is vital for Flagg
Given how highly KG regards the Maine native, it’s no surprise he’s excited to see Flagg on the big stage as soon as possible. However, it’s not just about the accolades the latter might collect at Duke; it’s about gaining experience in high-stakes moments and learning to lead as his team’s No. 1 option from day one.
While Flagg’s debut in the league is highly anticipated, the 2004 MVP also needs to understand how beneficial it would be for the 6’9” forward to represent Duke before handling the constant pressure in an 82-game grueling season, especially when he would continuously have media outlets ready to criticize him for every mishap.
