The race for college basketball’s National Player of the Year has been heating up! This season’s duel between Johni Broome and Cooper Flagg has fans on the edge of their seats, waiting to see who takes the trophy home. Both of them have been making a solid case for NPOY honors, but understandably, the hype is behind Flagg. According to analysts, however, the Duke forward has a lot more than hype on his side.
On ESPN’s The Adam Gold Show, Rodd Baxley from USA Today Sports gave his views on how Cooper Flagg impacts the game at a much higher level than his competitor. “I think Flagg, as a defender, is so much better than Johni Broome.” He brought up EvanMiya statistics, in which there is a large gap between the two.
The DBPR or the Defensive Bayesian Performance Rating, reflects the value that a player brings to the court defensively. If we compare the two, we can see a gaping canyon between Broome and Flagg. The Blue Devils forward is second on the list with a score of 4.52, while Broome is 51st in the league with a 2.96. Not only defense, Baxley argued that the Maine Event’s all-round impact is a lot more than the Auburn star.
“Most of the damage Broome does is inside that paint area.” He said about the six-foot-ten forward. “And then you look at Cooper, and he’s 94 feet, hand-to-hand. He can affect the game sideline to sideline and baseline to baseline.” While Johni Broome has been doing great on offense, there’s no doubt that Flagg stuffs the stat sheet better than him. He has been leading the Blue Devils in nearly every major statistical category the entire season.
While the competition is fierce, the award isn’t the be-all, end-all for Cooper Flagg and his team. Duke is aiming for a championship, and both players and fans won’t be happy until they win. With rumors floating around of Cooper Flagg returning to Duke next year, everyone has something to say, including NBA stars.
Boogie’s word of advice for Cooper Flagg and his uncertain future
There’s no doubt left that Cooper Flagg will go first overall in this year’s NBA draft. The Duke star has been hooping his heart out for Scheyer, and his averages of nearly 20, 7, and 4 have enticed NBA scouts. However, NBA legend DeMarcus Cousins had a word of advice for the young wing on Fan Duel’s ‘Run it back!’.
According to Cousins, there is a very particular scenario in which Flagg should go to the NBA. “Go back to Duke or the Jazz brother. Pelicans, you’ll get lost in the sauce with the Saints.” Boogie claimed that Washington, and Charlotte won’t be ideal spots for him to start his career in.
Dec 4, 2024; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) controls the ball in front of Auburn Tigers center Johni Broome (4) during the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images
Currently, many teams are tanking for the Blue Devils forward. However, if Flagg was to listen to Boogie, there’d be a larger chance of him going back to school. Even through all of the rumors, it’s unlikely that Cooper Flagg will stay for a second year. He reclassified so that he could have a shot at the pro league a year earlier, and staying might nullify that advantage.
Nevertheless, we won’t know anything for sure until the end of the season. Duke is looking to win a national championship this year, and with the talent they have, it really is in the realm of possibilities. Cooper Flagg’s team has a lot to write home about, but the road to a title will be long and arduous for the group.
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