The narrative surrounding Cooper Flagg has shifted overnight.
For months, the basketball world whispered. There were the doubters, the skeptics, and the “realists” who looked at the 18-year-old prospect from Maine and saw a ceiling. They threw around names like Tyler Hansbrough. They questioned his athleticism. They wondered if a teenager could truly translate his game to the pace and physicality of the modern NBA.
On a Wednesday night in December, Cooper Flagg didn’t just answer those questions—he obliterated them.
In a performance that will likely be replayed in highlight reels for decades, the rookie sensation erupted for 42 points against the Utah Jazz, stamping his name into the history books alongside legends like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Kevin Durant. But this wasn’t just a high-scoring game; it was a statement. It was a declaration that the “Great White Hype” is, in fact, the real deal.
The “Processor” That Stunned Kevin Garnett
To understand the magnitude of what Flagg is doing, you have to look beyond the box score. You have to listen to the legends who have walked the path before him. NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, a man known for his raw honesty and intense scrutiny of young players, was left practically speechless by Flagg’s recent tear.
“I’ve never met someone that can just pick up things at such a high rate,” Garnett said, breaking down Flagg’s game. “When people talk about NBA players, they wonder how this guy made it… a lot of it has to do with their computer, their processor. And he just processes at a rate that I’ve never seen before.”
That “processor” was on full display against Utah. It wasn’t just about making shots; it was about reading defenses, exploiting mismatches, and adapting in real-time. Garnett pointed out a crucial evolution in Flagg’s game: the shift from a deferential rookie to an alpha scorer.
In his opening debut against the San Antonio Spurs, Flagg looked like a typical 18-year-old sharing the court with giants. He was timid. He deferred to veteran superstars like Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell, content to blend into the background and “take a backseat.” It was the safe play, the respectful rookie move.
Fast forward to December, and that timid kid is gone. In his place stands a 6’9” forward who is hunting his own offense, demanding the ball, and attacking the rim with a ferocity that belies his age.
Historic Context: Better Than The Greats?
Let’s talk numbers, because in the NBA, stats tell the story that emotions sometimes obscure. Scoring 40 points as a rookie is rare. Scoring 40 points as an 18-year-old rookie is almost unheard of.
By dropping 42 points, Cooper Flagg joined an exclusive fraternity of teenage prodigies. The list of 18-year-olds to achieve this feat includes Cliff Robinson, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Anthony Edwards, and GG Jackson. That’s it. That’s the list.
But here is where it gets truly shocking. When you contextualize how quickly Flagg achieved this milestone, he actually outpaces the modern legends of the game.
Kevin Durant didn’t score his first 40-point game until his 80th game.
Carmelo Anthony took 76 games.
LeBron James needed 69 games.
Anthony Edwards took 41 games.
Cooper Flagg? He did it in Game 26.
He reached this summit 15 games faster than Anthony Edwards, and nearly a full season faster than Kevin Durant. It is a statistic that borders on absurd. It suggests that while Flagg may have started “slow” in the eyes of some, his acceleration curve is actually vertical.
The “Hansbrough” Comparison Ages Like Milk
One of the most satisfying aspects of Flagg’s rise for his supporters is the silencing of the lazy comparisons. In the lead-up to the draft, and even during the Summer League, a contingent of critics tried to box Flagg into a specific archetype: the “hard-working but limited” white college star. The name Tyler Hansbrough was thrown around—a great college player who couldn’t dominate the pros.
“For a lot of these so-called Flagg critics, Flagg detractors who weren’t sold on this guy… what are you not sold on?” Garnett asked, clearly frustrated by the narrative.
The comparisons to Hansbrough or even a “Larry Bird 2.0” (simply due to skin color) are now being exposed for what they were: lazy analysis. As Garnett and other analysts have noted, Flagg’s game is far more modern and dynamic. He isn’t a stiff post player. He isn’t a slow-footed shooter.
“He’s much more Jayson Tatum,” Garnett argued. “He’s a hybrid between the skill set of a Jayson Tatum and the motor and quick second jumps of a Shawn Marion.”
Think about that combination. Tatum’s polished scoring package mixed with the “Matrix” Shawn Marion’s relentless energy, rebounding, and defensive versatility. It’s a terrifying prospect for the rest of the league. Flagg isn’t just scoring; he’s impacting the game on the glass, in the passing lanes, and as a weak-side rim protector. He is the prototype for the “positionless” basketball of the 2030s.
The December Explosion
The turning point seems to have been the calendar flip to December. Flagg’s rookie season can essentially be divided into two chapters: The “Feel Out” Phase and The “Takeover.”
In his first 13 games, Flagg was a “good, not great” rookie. He showed flashes, but he was clearly finding his footing. But in the last 13 games? He has cranked the intensity up several notches.
During this recent stretch, Flagg is averaging:
22 Points
6 Rebounds
4 Assists
52% Shooting from the field
Out of those 13 games, he has scored 20+ points seven times and cracked the 35-point barrier twice. These aren’t empty stats on a losing team; these are impact plays. He’s attacking the “elbow” area, using his size to rise over defenders for mid-range jumpers that feel automatic.
The Only Weakness (For Now)
If there is one critique—one sliver of hope for opposing defenses—it is Flagg’s three-point shot. It hasn’t fallen yet.
In his last 13 games, while his mid-range shooting has been elite (hovering near 49-54% from 8-16 feet), his three-point percentage has actually dipped, falling to around 22%. It is a rookie struggle, a rite of passage. The speed of the NBA closeout is different; the line is further back.
But here is the scary part: It doesn’t matter.
Flagg is dominating without a reliable three-ball. He is averaging 24 points in December primarily off cuts, transition buckets, and a lethal mid-range game. As analysts have pointed out, if that three-point shot starts falling—whether it’s later this season or next year—he becomes virtually unguarded. He will be a true three-level scorer.
“If that three-ball starts falling… this guy is going to be unstoppable,” the commentary noted. “He can pull from the mid-range or get to the rack and dunk on your head.”
A Generational Draft Class
It is important to note that Flagg isn’t doing this in a vacuum. The 2025 draft class is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory. Names like Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, and VJ Edgecombe are all showing flashes of greatness. Ace Bailey, in particular, is viewed by some as a rival for that top-tier status.
But right now? In December 2025? Cooper Flagg stands alone at the mountain top.
He is the one putting up historical numbers. He is the one drawing praise from the OGs of the game. He is the one making the adjustment from “high school phenom” to “NBA star” look deceptively easy.
The Verdict
We are witnessing the early days of a career that feels destined for greatness. The “timid” kid who deferred to Anthony Davis is gone. In his place is a versatile, aggressive, and highly intelligent forward who knows he belongs.
The comparisons to Tyler Hansbrough are dead. The comparisons to Grant Hill, Jayson Tatum, and Scottie Pippen are alive and well.
Cooper Flagg has arrived. And if his first 26 games are any indication, the NBA is going to be his playground for a very, very long time.
As Kevin Garnett put it simply: “This guy is an NBA player. An NBA prospect that is nothing short of spectacular.”
So, if you haven’t tuned in to watch the rookie work yet, do yourself a favor. Turn on the TV. Watch the kid with the high motor and the “computer” brain. You might just be watching the future face of the league.
