For Duke coach Jon Scheyer, Cooper Flagg may be the best player in the country, but the freshman doesn’t remain undisputed. Johni Broome’s solid run, with his nation’s best BPR, is helping shape the NPOY race to be one of the best in recent years. Ace Bailey, on the other hand, is giving the Blue Devil a run for his money on the 2025 draft prospect charts. A recent few scout reports would have given that away but Paul George’s assessments are here to make clear.
On his podcast, “Podcast P with Paul George,” the Philadelphia 76ers star revealed his top pick for the upcoming draft. While he commends Cooper Flagg, there’s another talent he believes has got more to offer.
“If I had to pick, I would probably go Ace Bailey. I think Ace Bailey is a little bit more raw talent with still a ton of upside. I think Cooper Flagg, not to say he has no upside, he has amazing upside as well but I think Ace Bailey has a little bit more upside to him. I think he can scratch a little bit more off of his surface than Cooper Flagg can,” George reveals.
By pure stats, Bailey is averaging 18.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, while shooting 46.6% from the field in his freshman season. Cooper Flagg, on the other hand, is averaging 19.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, while shooting 48.5% from the field.
Dec 30, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ace Bailey (4) and guard Dylan Harper (2) gesture to fans after being subbed out during the second half against the Columbia Lions at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
“He’s [among the] top-3 youth players in the world,” an NBA scout told Zagoria, Bleacher Report reveals.“Everyone has Cooper Fever, [but] he will challenge Cooper for No. 1.”
The main difference right now, however, is that Cooper Flagg has the edge as a playmaker, showcasing a sharper ability to distribute the ball. On the other hand, the Rutgers guard is still developing in that department and isn’t seen as a natural playmaker by scouts. Plus, Bailey’s lack of rim pressure is another factor that could impact his draft stock! Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report currently has Bailey as the third pick of the draft with his teammate in second position!
For Paul George, this is some future in the making. “Definitely those two will be the Magic Johnson – Larry Bird comparisons,” he adds.
Interestingly, the 76ers are reported to be eyeing Bailey to pair his offensive skills and physical attributes Joel Emiid as they set on a dry spell. But things could change drastically. Cooper Flagg recently dropped a bombshell in an interview with The Athletic, and it could change the entire trajectory of the upcoming draft!
Cooper Flagg wants to come back for a second year at Duke!
Flagg took social media by storm earlier this week with a shocking revelation during an interview with The Athletic. The highly touted prospect dropped a bombshell, saying he might return to Duke in 2026. “I want to come back next year,” Flagg told Brendan Quinn and Brendan Marks.
With NIL deals taking over college sports, Flagg could easily cash in on a massive payday if he decides to return to Duke for his sophomore season. We’ve already seen 2026’s top prospect, AJ Dybantsa, land a $7 million deal to play at BYU next year, so it’s not far-fetched to imagine Flagg making a similar, if not bigger, amount. The money is definitely there if he chooses to stay!
But if that is Flagg’s main motivator, the NBA is obviously the better option. As the potential first-overall pick, he could be earning a whopping $12.6 million in base salary alone! That’s a huge upgrade from what he could make in college!
While Duke fans will certainly hope to see Flagg for another year, Zion Williamson’s story is still fresh in the minds.
While Paul George thinks Ace Bailey is going to be the first pick in the upcoming draft, the odds are still in favor of Flagg claiming that spot, unless he surprises us all and decides to come back for a second season at Duke! So, what do you think? Who’s taking the No. 1 pick?
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