Cooper Flagg

[Roy H.]

Not that thus has anything to do with Flagg, but the birth stuff got me thinking about players from a place and I'm not sure there is a greater basketball city than Akron. At least on a pure talent standpoint. Everyone knows Lebron (and now Bronny, ha), but there has been a lot of talent coming out of Akron, a city of less than 200,000 people.

HOFers - Steph Curry, Lebron James, Nate Thurmond
All Stars - Gus Johnson, Steve Johnson, Chuck Noble
Champion - Chuck Share
1st Round Pick - Jerome Lane
Multi-year players - JaKarr Sampson, Bill Turner
Active Players - Larry Nance Jr, Malaki Branham, Chris Livingston, Bronny James

You can put together a pretty darn good all time team with that group.

https://www.stadiumtalk.com/s/cities-produced-most-nba-players-9b4aee1b7f7d4542

[Moranis]

Not that thus has anything to do with Flagg, but the birth stuff got me thinking about players from a place and I'm not sure there is a greater basketball city than Akron. At least on a pure talent standpoint. Everyone knows Lebron (and now Bronny, ha), but there has been a lot of talent coming out of Akron, a city of less than 200,000 people.

HOFers - Steph Curry, Lebron James, Nate Thurmond
All Stars - Gus Johnson, Steve Johnson, Chuck Noble
Champion - Chuck Share
1st Round Pick - Jerome Lane
Multi-year players - JaKarr Sampson, Bill Turner
Active Players - Larry Nance Jr, Malaki Branham, Chris Livingston, Bronny James

You can put together a pretty darn good all time team with that group.

https://www.stadiumtalk.com/s/cities-produced-most-nba-players-9b4aee1b7f7d4542

most is not same as best. And obviously the super populous cities have way more players though even then really only New York stands out as clearly better than Akron (Philly, LA, and Chicago have way more depth, but they are massive cities, and the pure top level talent isn't clearly better or isnt better at all).

[Celtics2021]

Not that thus has anything to do with Flagg, but the birth stuff got me thinking about players from a place and I'm not sure there is a greater basketball city than Akron. At least on a pure talent standpoint. Everyone knows Lebron (and now Bronny, ha), but there has been a lot of talent coming out of Akron, a city of less than 200,000 people.

HOFers - Steph Curry, Lebron James, Nate Thurmond
All Stars - Gus Johnson, Steve Johnson, Chuck Noble
Champion - Chuck Share
1st Round Pick - Jerome Lane
Multi-year players - JaKarr Sampson, Bill Turner
Active Players - Larry Nance Jr, Malaki Branham, Chris Livingston, Bronny James

You can put together a pretty darn good all time team with that group.

https://www.stadiumtalk.com/s/cities-produced-most-nba-players-9b4aee1b7f7d4542

most is not same as best. And obviously the super populous cities have way more players though even then really only New York stands out as clearly better than Akron (Philly, LA, and Chicago have way more depth, but they are massive cities, and the pure top level talent isn't clearly better or isnt better at all).

It also depends if you think being born in a hospital but moving when an infant means you?re actually from a place.  Different for everybody of course.

[Surferdad]

Bronny is not from Akron.

[radiohead]

With all the news coming out that the Lakers weren?t seriously going after top free agents, could it be JJ and Rob?s masterplan to tank the upcoming season and get a shot at Cooper Flagg?

I think the Pelicans have that pick, don't they?

They do indeed.

Wow I totally forgot about this. This might be a pretty long rebuilding process for the Lakers then. We have a golden opportunity to distance ourselves from them championships wise. Sorry for the OT.

[boscel33]

Doesn't matter.  In five years, he'll be a Celtic!  One year at Duke, four year rookie contract, then on to the C's!

[Moranis]

Bronny is not from Akron.

he was born in Akron and lived in an Akron suburb for years.

[Wretch]

Doesn't matter.  In five years, he'll be a Celtic!  One year at Duke, four year rookie contract, then on to the C's!

I wouldn't be surprised if he stays at Duke an extra year if a bad organization gets the #1 pick, especially with NIL money at Duke.

[Kernewek]

Doesn't matter.  In five years, he'll be a Celtic!  One year at Duke, four year rookie contract, then on to the C's!

I wouldn't be surprised if he stays at Duke an extra year if a bad organization gets the #1 pick, especially with NIL money at Duke.

I would. If you're a surefire lottery pick there's absolutely no reason to stay out of the league a second longer than you have to.

[Roy H.]

Doesn't matter.  In five years, he'll be a Celtic!  One year at Duke, four year rookie contract, then on to the C's!

I wouldn't be surprised if he stays at Duke an extra year if a bad organization gets the #1 pick, especially with NIL money at Duke.

I would. If you're a surefire lottery pick there's absolutely no reason to stay out of the league a second longer than you have to.

Yeah.  That NIL money doesn't compare to an extra year of NBA earning potential.

[Celtics2021]

Doesn't matter.  In five years, he'll be a Celtic!  One year at Duke, four year rookie contract, then on to the C's!

I wouldn't be surprised if he stays at Duke an extra year if a bad organization gets the #1 pick, especially with NIL money at Duke.

I would. If you're a surefire lottery pick there's absolutely no reason to stay out of the league a second longer than you have to.

Yeah.  That NIL money doesn't compare to an extra year of NBA earning potential.

Yeah, NIL is great, but being eligible for a rookie max extension when you are 22 is way better.  And he will get plenty of NIL in the pros also, regardless of where he lands initially.

[BitterJim]

Doesn't matter.  In five years, he'll be a Celtic!  One year at Duke, four year rookie contract, then on to the C's!

I wouldn't be surprised if he stays at Duke an extra year if a bad organization gets the #1 pick, especially with NIL money at Duke.

I would. If you're a surefire lottery pick there's absolutely no reason to stay out of the league a second longer than you have to.

Agreed. NIL might compare with rookie contract money (although I doubt it compares with #1 pick money), but that comparison isn't the right one. It's every subsequent contract

[Roy H.]

Before Cooper Flagg begins his career at Duke and Ace Flagg his senior year at Montverde Academy (Fla.), the two brothers are giving back to young basketball players in Maine with their own mini-camp.

The Cooper and Ace Flagg Basketball Procamp will be held at the University of Maine on August 10th and 11th. The camp is for boys and girls grades one-six and will see the star duo and a number of local coaches teaching the youngsters fundamentals, giving lectures and more. Campers will also receive a free autograph from Cooper and Ace.

Guess whose kids are going?  Super pumped.

[Roy H.]

Great article on Flagg:  https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/cooper-flagg-dishes-on-boston-celtics-film-study-vision-for-dukes-defense-and-new-bond-with-kevin-love/

[liam]

Great article on Flagg:  https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/cooper-flagg-dishes-on-boston-celtics-film-study-vision-for-dukes-defense-and-new-bond-with-kevin-love/

I hope the kid ends up on a team with good management. Not like Washington or The Pistons...