Kevin Durant Details Why Cooper Flagg ‘Will Be Considered One Of The Best Of All-Time’ [Exclusive]

Rashad MillerNovember 3, 2025November 4, 2025no comment

NBA, Kevin Durant, Warriors, Suns, Rockets

William Purnell/Getty Images

When Kevin Durant speaks, people listen, especially when he’s talking about the next generation. After the Dallas Mavericks’ 110–102 loss to the Houston Rockets, the 15-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion was asked about rookie sensation Cooper Flagg.

Through seven games this season, Flagg has averaged 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, showing flashes of the two-way versatility that made him the top pick. The Mavericks’ matchup with the Rockets was another step in Flagg’s growth — finishing with 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists.

Kevin Durant’s Stamp of Approval

Like Durant, Flagg entered the NBA with massive expectations. The Maine native and former Duke standout became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, marking the beginning of the Mavericks’ post-Luka Dončić era. For a franchise seeking to redefine its identity, Flagg represents both promise and pressure.

After facing Flagg for the first time in the NBA, Durant expressed confidence that the rookie will become one of the top players in league history after his career plays out.

“I think that he’s going to be a hell of a player,” Durant told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I think that he’s going to be such a nightmare… that… he’ll be considered one of the best of all time.”

Durant, speaking as a veteran who understands how challenging the transition can be for a young player, added perspective on Flagg’s adjustment.

“I think that you’re going from in college playing four and five to playing point guard, two guard,” Durant told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “That’s going to be an adjustment period for everybody.”

Kevin Durant’s Parallels to Cooper Flagg’s Early NBA Lessons

At Duke, Flagg was a 6-foot-9 do-it-all forward who could rebound, block shots, and ignite transition offense. In Dallas, head coach Jason Kidd and general manager Nico Harrison are challenging him to evolve into a more guard-oriented role — initiating offense, creating reads, and defending on the perimeter.

It’s a demanding transition, one Durant himself once faced.

Reflecting on his own journey, Durant recalled his time at the University of Texas, where he thrived in the mid-post, attacking slower defenders and controlling the glass. But in the NBA, the Seattle SuperSonics and Oklahoma City Thunder asked him to play shooting guard — requiring him to defend quicker players, create off the dribble, and master spacing on the perimeter.

“I hate to inject myself into his [situation],” Durant admitted. “But I came in college playing four, five. I came to the league playing a two. So it’s like position changes like that can really throw you off early on in your career, but I think he’s still working through it and having some good games, you know?”

Kevin Durant Sees Cooper Flagg Figuring It Out

Flagg’s first few NBA games have brought both highs and lows, but he’s handled the learning curve with maturity. He’s already joined Kobe Bryant as the only teenagers in league history to score 20 or more points without a turnover, yet he’s also been limited to two points on 1-of-9 shooting against the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

“It’s only a matter of time before he gets it and clicks for him,” Durant explained to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “He understands truly what his role is — I think the sky’s the limit for him.”

Durant’s faith comes from experience. He’s seen the same early struggles in his own career and knows how quickly growth can follow.

“He’s still working through it and having some good games,” he told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “It’s only a matter of time before he gets it.”

As one of the players who redefined the forward position, Durant recognizes a reflection of his younger self in Flagg’s game. If the Mavericks rookie follows a similar trajectory, he could become the prototype for the NBA’s next generation.