Future rival of Wembanyama, the US media bluntly on Cooper Flagg: “I expected…

By Joël Pütz | Sports journalist

While Victor Wembanyama is a hit in the NBA, the American public hopes that Cooper Flagg will be able to stand up to him in the years to come. But an American journalist was quite worried about the NCCA nugget, expected very high in the 2025 draft.

Who will be the next face of the NBA? For most observers, it obviously seems that this role will one day return to Victor Wembanyama. The Frenchman is already destroying the competition in his sophomore year and with his revolutionary profile, he could usher in a new era for basketball. Enough to delight the public in France of course, but a little less so those in the United States who must really be fed up…

While international players have dominated the MVP race for years, the advent of the Alien does not reassure Americans. As a result, they are pinning all their hopes on young Cooper Flagg, announced as the first pick in the next draft. He is supposed to bring with him the revival of US basketball… but for the moment, it is hard to believe that he could one day rise to the level of a Wembanyama.

Cooper Flagg not highlighted enough by the American media?

Rather complete in his game, Flagg however has fairly obvious weaknesses in outside shooting. A very problematic subject in the current league where three-point shooter is no longer just an asset, but practically a prerequisite… Result, despite more than 17 points and 8 rebounds on average under the colors of Duke, the interior is far from enjoying as much media coverage as Wemby before his arrival in the NBA.

A rather worrying observation and one that saddens journalist Jeff Goodman, who recently defended Flagg on the podcast After Dark :

I don’t think Cooper Flagg has gotten enough credit for what he’s done this year. I really don’t believe it.

I expected it to be Cooper Flag season, you know? I remember when I worked at ESPN there was a meeting during the preseason. We were wondering what we were going to hold on to this year. What will the audience do this year? And this year it was easy, wasn’t it? The white kid from Duke, the freshman, will be the first draft pick.

There is nothing easier. And I really don’t feel like this story was pushed as much as I thought it would be. He surpassed himself. I mean, remember he’s a freshman who just turned 18, what, a week and a half ago? He averages 17 points, 8 rebounds, almost 4 assists. He’s not very good from three-point range, but he does everything else.

Cooper Flagg is supposed to embody the future of American basketball, but Jeff Goodman believes that the US media is not doing enough to highlight him even though he shows great promise. One thing is certain, his future duels with Victor Wembanyama will be closely scrutinized.