Cooper Flagg is expected by many to be one of the next great players in NBA’s long history.
But not everyone feels that way.
After one year at Duke the 18-year-old phenom was drafted first overall by the Dallas Mavericks. He’s expected to slot alongside Kyrie Irving (when fully healthy) and Anthony Davis this season.
While some say Flagg could develop into a superstar, one NBA writer believes his ceiling is a high-level role player.
Chuck Klosterman, who has written about basketball for ESPN and Grantland, compared Flagg to retired forward Detlef Schrempf.
“I don’t see him as a dominating player,” Klosterman said. “I think he’ll be the second best player on a good team or the third best player on a great team.”
The German forward has a common tie with Flagg as they were both first-round selections by the Mavericks. Schrempf was picked 8th overall in the 1985 draft by Dallas.
In 1989, was traded to the Indiana Pacers where he won back-to-back Sixth Man of the Year Awards. He then moved on to the Seattle Supersonics where he went to three All-Star games and fell in 1996 NBA Finals to Michael Jordan’s Bulls.
It’s an impressive resume by most standards, but Flagg is one of the greatest prospects in NBA history. If he was to win Sixth Man of the Year it would say more about his descent to role player than winning a prestigious award.
“Nothing I saw… made me think he is going to be unstoppable,” Klosterman added.
“I think he’s going to have a career like Detlef Schrempf.”@CKlosterman joined @BillSimmons and explained why he’s not completely buying into the hype around Cooper Flagg. pic.twitter.com/hoGMpwYlQh
— The Ringer (@ringer) June 10, 2025
The 6-foot-9 forward is well-suited as power forward, but in the modern NBA will likely play as a small-ball five or a wing piece. He could be neutralized if teams gameplan around where he will fit on the floor.
For Klosterman’s prediction to come true, Dallas would have to try and fail multiple times to put Flagg in a high-usage role. He’ll be afforded every opportunity with the investment that was used to select him.
Then again, there have been worst first overall picks and if Flagg turns out to be like Schrempf he will be better than most players to grace the NBA hardwood.
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