As the NBA prepares to welcome its newest wave of talent, one name has already captured the imagination of fans, scouts, and former stars alike: Cooper Flagg. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is drawing rave reviews, and none louder than from former All-Star Blake Griffin, who recently called Flagg “the most complete player we’ve seen come into the NBA in recent memory.”
Griffin made the statement during an appearance on the Post Moves podcast alongside Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston, where he reflected on his own experience as a top pick and offered glowing praise for the Dallas Mavericks rookie.
“He passes, he shoots, he defends, he rebounds,” Griffin said. “He seems like a great teammate, seems like a great kid. What’s the red flag? Which is really exciting for basketball to have these young guys.”
“He’s the most complete player that we’ve seen come into the NBA in recent memory… Like, what’s the red flag?”
Blake Griffin shares his excitement on Cooper Flagg 🗣️
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— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 20, 2025
Flagg’s lone season at Duke only solidified his reputation as a generational prospect. Averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 48.1% shooting, he showcased elite versatility on both ends of the floor. At 6-foot-9, Flagg can guard multiple positions, initiate offense, and finish through contact, traits that have scouts comparing him to the likes of Kevin Durant and Scottie Pippen.
Griffin, who entered the league in 2009 as a high-flying phenom, sees something different in Flagg: a player who’s already polished, poised, and ready to lead.
“Most No. 1 picks are going to teams that haven’t been doing too great in the past,” Griffin added. “But I love that he’s in Dallas. I think they have a really solid team around him.”
Unlike most top picks, Flagg joins a Mavericks team with playoff aspirations and a veteran core that includes Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and D’Angelo Russell. With Luka Dončić now in Los Angeles and Kyrie Irving sidelined with injury, Flagg is expected to step in immediately as a two-way playmaker.
His early performances in the NBA Summer League have only fueled the hype. In his second game, Flagg dropped 31 points and flashed the defensive instincts that made him a standout at Duke. Analysts already consider him a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.
For Griffin, who knows the weight of expectations firsthand, Flagg’s arrival feels like a turning point.
“He’s got a ton of room to grow,” Griffin said. “But he’s already so complete. It’s exciting for basketball.”
