The 2025 NBA Draft is right around the corner, and all eyes are on one name — Cooper Flagg. Many believe he’s locked in as the No. 1 overall pick. With the Dallas Mavericks holding the top selection, it’s highly expected that head coach Jason Kidd won’t hesitate to choose the Duke standout.
Experts have already started comparing Flagg to some of the greatest two-way players the game has ever seen, but former NBA star Quentin Richardson took things a bit further. He didn’t just compare Flagg to Andrei Kirilenko — also known as “AK-47” — he said Flagg is actually more explosive.
Quentin Richardson Sings Praises for Cooper Flagg
Flagg’s hype started back in high school and only grew stronger during his single season at Duke. There, he helped lead the Blue Devils all the way to the Final Four.
Ever since then, fans and analysts can’t stop talking about where he’ll land in the NBA. Right now, the Dallas Mavericks are the favorites to draft him after winning the NBA Draft Lottery, but not everyone agrees that Dallas is the best fit. NBA veteran Tony Allen thinks another team might suit him better.
However, everyone can agree that the Duke phenom is a formidable player on the court. He had a spectacular freshman season at Duke, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, which solidified his status as the top prospect in the draft.
Meanwhile, his shooting splits of 48.1% from the field, 38.5% from 3-point range, and 84% from the free-throw line make him an exceptional powerhouse ready for the NBA stage.
With talent like that, Richardson, a former NBA star, didn’t hold back while praising the 18-year-old, comparing him to Kirilenko, the former Utah Jazz forward.
“When I look at Cooper Flagg, my player comp was Andrei Kirilenko. And when I say that, people are like, ‘What?’ Well, I’m like, first of all, don’t disrespect AK-47. He was a bad boy, that’s to start with. But when you look at Cooper Flagg’s game, he’s more explosive than AK-47, offensively, and he’s got way more bounce to him and pop,” Richardson said.
Cooper Flagg is more explosive than Andrei Kirilenko, a guy literally nicknamed AK-47… let that sink in 😮💨🔥
Q-Rich gives HIGH praise to the Duke phenom, projected to go No. 1 to the Mavericks in this year’s NBA Draft 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/5G2BD5KX4j
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) May 30, 2025
Richardson also praised Flagg’s defense, hustle, and rebounding. He noted that Flagg can impact games even without scoring 20 or 30 points.
These are the traits that made Kirilenko a defensive star, but Richardson believes Flagg has even more bounce and a louder presence on the court. This makes Flagg an even bigger force in the game.
KEEP READING: Projected No. 1 Pick Flagg Headlines CAA’s 2025 NBA Draft Class
The only real concern is the massive hype surrounding him. He is still very young, and this level of attention is quite new for him. Nobody wants him to crumble under immense pressure.
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