The hype machine revved up the moment Cooper Flagg put on a Duke jersey. One breakaway dunk. One chasedown block. One heat-check, three. Suddenly, the whispers turned into comparisons—”To me, he’s Bird-like a little bit,” said Jim Boeheim once. But when it came to Dan Patrick, he laughed. Literally. “He’s not going to be Larry Bird,” he said flatly. And just like that, the Flagg frenzy met its first real speed bump.
At 6’9″ with a 7’1″ wingspan, he is adept at defending multiple positions, often creates his own shot in tight spaces, and makes plays for teammates. His 42-point demolition job against Notre Dame showed his ceiling, but it’s his consistency throughout Duke’s tournament run that proves he’s not just a flash in the pan; he’s built for the big stages. But are the expectations justified?
Recently, on the Gil’s Arena podcast, Gilbert Arenas shed some light on the wondrous performances Cooper Flagg is putting up. He said, “ What Cooper Flagg has that can’t be measured is that he plays very hard. He has a Giannis motor….I think he will surprise a lot of people…will be averaging 20-25 easily by his third year. Because he plays harder than everybody.”
Gilbert Arenas made a bold claim about Cooper Flagg’s scoring potential by his third imminent NBA season. This is not wrong, as the starlet is averaging 19.2 points, all while shooting an efficient 48.3% from the field and 38.4% from deep. Accrediting this to his ‘Giannis motor’, a nod to another unrelenting superstar of the Bucks, who plays with the same intensity and has managed to average 23.9 points for the Bucks in 859 regular-season games.
NCAA, College League, USA Basketball: Wake Forest at Duke Mar 3, 2025 Durham, North Carolina, USA Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg 2 reacts as he heads to the bench during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils won 93-60. Durham Cameron Indoor Stadium North Carolina USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xRobxKinnanx 20250303_neb_bk1_0265
But when Dan Patrick heard Arenas’ forecast, he didn’t hold back, “If we’re putting these expectations on him, I’ve seen it too many times. Can he average that? Yes. Do I expect him to average that? I don’t know where he’s going. As Dan Patrick said in his infinite wisdom, it is honestly too early to state what he will be averaging once he begins playing in the NBA. Nobody is questioning the potential. It is just a matter of waiting and watching because nobody knows where his trajectory will take him.
“He’s not gonna be Larry Bird. We just get caught up in the expectations.” Stating the reality for what it is. That although Flagg is playing brilliantly, one cannot get carried away with expectations.
The NBA is littered with examples of players who were hyped immensely and did not live up to their full potential. These players illustrate that hype does not always translate into sustained success.
The curious cases of the stars who failed to deliver on their hype
There is a long list of NBA potential that never quite justified the hype train they had acquired. If there are cautionary tales to look at for Cooper Flagg, here are some examples.
Take Kwame Brown, for example. Michael Jordan himself picked this kid first overall in 2001! Everyone thought he’d be a monster in the paint, but fate had other plans. Kwame Brown was drafted straight out of high school at 19. He joined a veteran Washington Wizards team led by Michael Jordan, who prioritized winning over player development. He lacked confidence, and that was exacerbated by the lack of mentorship he received from his teammates.
Kwame Brown also suffered an avulsion fracture that was misdiagnosed by the Philadelphia 76ers’ medical staff. This injury limited his ability to play and ultimately ended his NBA career prematurely. Now, his career numbers tell the real story: just 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game with a 49.2% shooting percentage across 12 forgettable seasons. MJ’s first big executive swing was honestly a miss.
Then there is the case of Darko Milicic, who, after being oversold by the media, was drafted at #2 by the Pistons as a part of that legendary 2003 class. It is astounding to think that the Pistons picked him over Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Oof, a draft night disaster in retrospect. He rarely saw meaningful minutes on the court, which hindered his development. He averaged 6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and a 46.0% field goal percentage. No wonder fans still cringe at his name.
AUBURN HILLS, MI – JUNE 27: Darko Milicic, 2nd pick of the 2003 NBA draft, holds his new uniform with Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown at the Palace of Auburn Hills June 27, 2003 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Einstein/NBAE/Getty Images)
Blake Griffin’s case is a more complex example of early promise meeting brutal physical decline. The man was electric in their early years at the Clippers. He was a walking highlight reel. He did decently, with career averages of 19.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. Griffin’s career has been plagued by injuries, including knee problems that diminished his athleticism over time.
But what was disappointing was that he never really evolved from those poster dunks, with a weak defense. As Griffin aged and lost some of his athletic edge, he struggled to adapt to new roles on different teams, limiting his impact compared to his early years. He also famously never made it past the second round in the playoffs.
Well, these examples go to show just how unforgiving the game of basketball is. It can either lift you up to the highest of highs, or plummet you to the lowest of the lows, all through your performances. These stories should help Cooper Flagg manage his expectations, as he does not want to be the next one on this list. For all it’s worth, I hope he doesn’t.
The post “He’s Not Going To Be Larry Bird” Dan Patrick On Cooper Flagg Amid Mounting Expectations After Scoring Claim By NBA Veteran appeared first on EssentiallySports.
