The Duke basketball program took on the Kentucky Wildcats in a highly anticipated top-25 showing on Tuesday night. Of course, all eyes were on Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Flagg had an impressive showing, but some mishaps he made down the stretch might have Brooklyn Nets fans thinking cautiously.
Flagg ended the marquee matchup with a game-high 26 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks, numbers that looked strong on paper. He helped anchor Duke's defense and was a go-to offensive weapon despite struggling with his shot at times. However, Flagg's end-of-game turnovers alarmed many.
1. Cooper Flagg's turnovers raised questions about his closing ability
Duke and Kentucky were tied with just under 20 seconds left in the game when Flagg drove toward the paint and spun into another Wildcat defender who stole the ball and drew a foul. Then, Flagg had another chance to score for the Blue Devils when they trailed 74-72 after Kentucky's made free throws.
Flagg received an outlet pass and drove toward the left side of the court. However, he lost his grip on the ball, and Kentucky's Amari Williams stayed with him stride for stride, which eventually resulted in Flagg losing his balance and going out of bounds. The two clips of Flagg's turnovers can be viewed below:
Cooper Flagg : 26 points on 9-19 shooting, 1-5 from 3, 7-8 from the FT line, 12 rebounds & 2 blocks in 32 minutes (2 turnovers in the final 12 seconds of the game) pic.twitter.com/XuwVPrEq8R
— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) November 13, 2024
Duke eventually ran out of time and lost 77-72.
Admittedly, Tuesday night was Flagg's first big college matchup, so nerves, especially at the end of the game, likely got to him, but his late-game execution will have to improve as he strives for greater heights.
His turnovers are not the only thing that raised eyebrows. Flagg shot just 1-for-5 on his three-pointers. There is no question of Flagg's defensive impact and upside, but in his first three college games, he has shot a lowly 23.1 percent on his deep-range shots. This might cause concern amongst Nets fans about his potential future offensive role, should he make it to the borough.
Nevertheless, Flagg did some good things against the Wildcats.
2. Flagg's defense and ability to get to hole are second to one
In addition to the two blocks Flagg totaled on Tuesday night, he showed his defensive versatility by switching to guard different positions. At 6-foot-9 with a wingspan that is reported to be over 7 feet, Flagg possesses the tools to be highly effective. Things did not completely work in his favor against Kentucky, but still made an impact on defense.
Furthermore, while he could not get his shot from beyond the arc going, he got into the paint for inside shots at an exceptional level:
Flagg put pressure on the Wildcats' defense, and he will only continue to grow and get better.
There is no guarantee Cooper Flagg will end up in a Nets jersey in 2025 depending on how the team finishes the 2024-25 season. But it is certainly possible. Flagg's first big college basketball game should get Brooklyn fans excited (with caution of course) of what could be to come.