Cooper Flagg of Duke University is always predicted to be selected first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, which is approximately precisely one month away. The San Antonio Spurs, who choose second, are said to have already decided on the second choice since the Dallas Mavericks, who won the draft lottery earlier this month, are so widely projected to take the 6’9 forward.
But Tony Allen, a former guard for the Memphis Grizzlies and Boston Celtics, is not persuaded.
During an interview with Grind City Media’s Chris Vernon Show, Allen criticized Flagg as a potential candidate. Allen believed he was more likely to be a “one-time All-Star” at his best rather than a generational scorer or elite two-way player, and he added a new name to the mix for any future comparisons to Flagg.
Not A Future Scoring Star
Allen remarked, “I don’t think Cooper Flagg will turn a franchise around like that.” “KD [Kevin Durant] is not someone I’m seeing.” I simply don’t see all of it. Andrei Kirilenko is with me.
Startled, host Vernon yelled more louder than normal and pushed back on Allen. He reminded him that, despite reclassifying and beginning his first and only collegiate season at the young age of 17, Flagg was selected the national college player of the year and was a unanimous first-team All-American. Although he hinted at prejudice against any Duke possibilities, Allen remained steadfast and doubled down.
He will only be an All-Star once. Bro, I don’t see it. These Duke students simply don’t excite me. Although he is pleasant, Andrei Kirilenko is his greatest potential.
Allen’s Comments On Duke Ill-Founded
As Allen’s colleagues panelists gleefully noted, “these Duke kids” include current NBA players Kyrie Irving and Paolo Banchero, as well as Jayson Tatum, the standout forward for the Celtics team to whom Allen is inextricably tied. Even if Allen doesn’t think Flagg will be one of them, Duke has had a lot of success with prospects. No school has a 100% success record with prospects.
To be fair, he did not say that Flagg would not succeed in the NBA. As a player, Allen, also known as the “Grindfather,” was considered one of the greatest defenders in NBA history and was selected to the NBA All-Defensive Team six times, including three times on the first team. Kirilenko was, too. That is still a pretty high floor for any player, even if Allen believes Flagg has Kirilenko-like potential.
However, this is still equivalent to destroying his prospects for a unanimous #1 overall selection. Allen was aware of that. And that was his goal.
Allen has had a fascinating retirement since the end of his NBA career in 2018. Earlier this year, the Grizzlies retired his #9 jersey to honor him as one of the “Core Four” who helped the long-suffering team turn things around. He is semi-regularly employed as a casual commentator and has partnered with the foundation of former Chicago Bulls big man Joakim Noah to lower the city’s teenage violence statistics. Allen, meanwhile, was also one of 18 former NBA players who were charged with stealing about $4 million in false medical and dental claims. After returning the money he got, he was given a sentence of three years of probation and community service under supervision.
