He hasn’t even started college yet, but two ESPN analysts are already concerned about how Cooper Flagg will be perceived among his peers and in the media.
Excitement for Flagg has been growing in recent days after he put on a clinic and dominated a select team practice against the U.S. Olympic Team in Las Vegas.
Flagg has been touted as one of the biggest high school basketball recruits in the country and was recruited by big-name schools such as Duke and UConn, eventually settling at Duke.
But “Pardon the Interruption” hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon share concerns that Flagg, like Caitlin Clark, will be used as a symbol of racial tension between black and white players in the league, even if Flagg and Clark don’t want to be.
“Look, he was the No. 1 recruit and it’s a big deal that he goes to Duke,” Kornheiser said.
Two ESPN analysts already fear Cooper Flagg will face immense pressure for being a white player
They compared her potential pressure to that faced by Indiana Fever point guard Caitlin Clark.
‘Let’s get down to the real facts, okay? Because he’s going to Duke and he’s a white player, there are going to be assumptions and statements made.
‘That’s the nature of what we’re dealing with here, as it is with Caitlin Clark. I expect him to be a great player, but the pressure on him will be enormous.
‘You and I talked about this on and off the air: Will there ever be a great white American basketball player again, like Larry Bird? And if there is, will he be allowed to just be a basketball player, or will all these cultural notions overwhelm him?’
Wilbon shared similar sentiments: “I hope this kid has the stomach for this Tone with parents who can help and teammates who can help. But Tony, this is the real deal.
“People don’t want to get involved with Caitlin Clark. This is new, it’s newer in women’s sports, but there won’t be the same reticence and reluctance when it comes to Cooper Flagg and Duke.”
Flagg is scheduled to play his freshman year at Duke under coach Jon Scheyer this year and is then expected to head to the NBA Draft.
Flagg is already projected to be the first pick in that draft class.