Chandler Parsons, a former NBA veteran with a successful career under his belt, knows a thing or two about what it takes to make it in the league. And on Wednesday, he made a bold statement about Duke Blue Devils freshman Cooper Flagg that's sure to turn some heads.
On the latest episode of Run It Back on FanDuel TV, co-hosts Michelle Beadle, Chandler Parsons, and Lou Williams discussed the rising star, with Parsons giving Flagg a glowing endorsement.
Earlier this week, ESPN's Seth Greenberg compared Flagg to some of the NBA's all-time greats, including Jayson Tatum, Grant Hill, and Scottie Pippen.
Parsons took it a step further, explaining why Flagg is different from anyone else.
"You know why this means Cooper Flagg is different? 'Cause we're not just comparing him to another white dude that played in the NBA. Comparing him to those three names, I see the similarities, he's got the dog in him, the swag, the game in him," Parsons said. "The kid's a stud. I've seen people say he's the greatest Duke freshman of all time. He has the face-of-the-NBA-type hype going into it, and there are still rumors he might go back to college. So, this kid's a stud. He's gonna be very, very good."
Flagg has more than lived up to the hype. As Duke's leader in points (19.4), rebounds (7.6), and assists (4.2), the 18-year-old forward is also dominating in steals (1.5) and blocks (1.3). He's the only player in the ACC to rank in the top 10 for both categories.
With those kinds of numbers, it's no surprise Parsons and others are calling him a future NBA star.
Related: Duke Reacts to Massive Cooper Flagg Announcement On Wednesday
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This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 9:08 AM.