With the NBA Draft just around the corner, the hype around Duke’s Cooper Flagg is peaking—and so are the wild player comparisons. From Kawhi Leonard to Kevin Garnett, and even Andrei Kirilenko, it seems like every day someone throws a new NBA legend into the mix. But leave it to Shaquille O’Neal to lob in the most surprising one yet.
During a recent conversation, Shaq tossed out a bold take: “He’s a great all-around player. I don’t want to put too much pressure on him, but a little baby Dirk [Nowitzki]? Could be.”
Wait—what?
Dirk and Flagg don’t exactly mirror each other on the floor. Dirk was a finesse-based, offensive juggernaut with a silky jumper and a questionable defensive resume for much of his career. Flagg, on the other hand, is a two-way terror—a defensive monster with elite timing, versatility, and athleticism that fuels his motor on both ends of the floor.
Also, calling Flagg “raw” feels off. The 6-foot-9 Duke phenom is anything but. As a freshman, he led the Blue Devils to 35 wins, an ACC title, and a Final Four berth. He’s polished, focused, and already has a defined role as a defensive anchor and transition weapon. There’s nothing unrefined about his game.
To be fair, Shaq meant it as a compliment—and he was clearly speaking more from a high-level “potential” standpoint than a strict stylistic breakdown. But basketball fans and analysts weren’t shy about pointing out the disconnect. “Shaq clearly hasn’t watched Flagg play,” one analyst quipped. “Great intentions, but it just doesn’t line up.”
And while the comparisons keep flying, Flagg is busy staying locked in.
The projected No. 1 overall pick visited Dallas this week for a private workout with the Mavericks—yes, the same team that just made headlines by trading Luka Dončić to the Lakers in a blockbuster midseason deal. And according to reports, Flagg made a huge impression.
One source said Flagg “shot the ball insanely well” and added, “He was even better than I expected him to be.” Another described the workout as “unreal.”
If Dallas pulls the trigger and selects Flagg with the first pick, he’ll be stepping into a high-pressure but opportunity-rich situation. He’d join a retooled Mavericks roster that includes three massive names: Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and former Duke star Kyrie Irving. Add in Dereck Lively II—another former Blue Devil—and it’s safe to say Flagg wouldn’t be alone in Dallas.
And while fans (and legends like Shaq) try to figure out who Flagg plays like, the truth might be simpler: Cooper Flagg might just be the first of his kind. And that’s more than enough.