Cooper Flagg Is Running Toward the Grind | J. Kyle Mann

Over the years, the one-and-done era of college basketball has gifted us with some thrilling, must-see TV talent. Having been on the prospect radar for quite some time, Cooper Flagg-the lean, mean, shot-blocking machine from Newport, Maine-looks to be the next in line to muster up that level of excitement. His somewhat unprecedented blend of incendiary defensive tools and promising offensive upside craft a vision of a player who could impact winning at the highest levels of NBA competition-but as we know, these visions can often prove to be mirages. Is Cooper Flagg’s bid for stardom legitimate, or far-fetched? The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann takes aim at finding out.
___________
Check out the Bill Simmons KZbin channel: / billsimmons
CONNECT
Shop: theringer.com/...
Website: theringer.com
Twitter: / ringer
Facebook: / ringer
Instagram: / ringer

[@TheMikeshow_]

That intro was insane, shout out to the editors 🔥🔥🔥

[@roeyburns7947]

Ridiculous!

[@tom4life2001]

So good!

[@daviday87]

100% that was some serious media deep cuts edited perfectly🔥

[@alexdelvento1273]

Had to have some Ai help

[@nat_penrose]

​@@alexdelvento1273 there's a service that can pull phrases from movies and TV

[@joanbrunet6]

J Kyle Mann on the title is an instant watch

[@NotOneToFly]

Still the best written and best edited basketball videos ON THE NET, bar none. Keep killing it, J Kyle Mann!

[@sgrey9181]

2nd best written - only behind Clayton Crowley

[@HoopsAficionado]

Throw Thinking Basketball (Ben Taylor) and Andy Hoops into that mix.

[@NotOneToFly]

@@sgrey9181 Well heck I didn't even know his stuff. Sub'd. Ben Taylor is a very close second to Mann for me and he's a more methodical analyst, but J Kyle Mann is just incredibly inventive with his scripts. That little edge, ya know.

[@eddiedong2558]

J Kyle Mann getting elevated to lead NBA analyst for The Ringer we love to see it folks

[@opiniononion]

AK47 would have been an amzazing player today. If Flagg is anywhere near AK, he'll be worth the hype

[@NotOneToFly]

All the comps are missing a little something. Batum doesn't have the killer edge, Shawn Marion was a better rebounder but much worse passer, and AK47 is too big. Great company to be in regardless.

[@noneofyourbusiness8349]

If he turns out to be AK47 level player he's still a bust. Media been hyping him up to KD/KG standards.

[@alkers372]

What is different about the game today, except more 3-point shooting? Andrei was a terrible 3 point shooter (career 31%). Given that weakness, he'd have trouble seeing the floor in today's NBA. Even when he did play he just averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds a game).

[@opiniononion]

@@alkers372 his shot was not broken and could have easily got better with better training. He can also legit guard 1 to 5 today while averaging 2 blocks and 2 steals

[@timboslice8559]

@@alkers372yeah but his peak was more like 16 6 and 3 blocks plus 2 steals a game lol. Do your research

[@denim5667]

BABE, WAKE UP, J KYLE MANN WITH ANOTHER BANGER

[@Michael-ir2du]

Yo im cried at that “he’s white” 😩😂

[@sendittobrandon2012]

I mean I'm only half white but hey feels good to say tbh

[@burnerburner7264]

AK47 is actually a good comp, atleast defensively. I don't think the comparison is made just because he's white. There's no perfect comparison of Flagg. Batum is not a perfect comp, but he's also a good comp because he's a swiss army knife like Flagg.

[@theheebs100]

Being from Maine, I'm glad you mentioned the love for the game that is alive and well in the 207.

[@Zgreene2]

J Kyle Mann is the GOAT!!! bless up

[@tlxxlt4745]

J Kyle Mann is amazing lmao

[@mackenzielabar1982]

Babe wake up…. J. Kyle Mann just dropped another banger

[@duraghoops]

still the goat of intros and prospect breakdowns

[@christianhess2983]

This is the single best intro i have ever seen on the entire internet let alone on tv. This must have taken ages! Outstanding job by the editors!!!!!

[@jaceeedition18]

I know it wont happen, but I hope he goes to San Antonio. Him and Wemby defensively would be borderline flawless

[@pepejr10king]

Imagine curry having to play with TJD and Moody agaisnt Wemby and Copper😭💔

[@razkable]

It could happen if the hawks or spurs get the 1st pick or if the bulls for some reason don't get a top 10 pick cause then it goes to the spurs and it has a chance to be 1st

[@AppliedNuggets]

Adam Silver would 💩 a 🧱

[@Dlyyzz]

It'll be another two decades with 5 championships and no views. Come on. Don't send him to a dead market like that.

[@lecygnenoir4313]

Oh man, imagine a team with Castle, Flagg, Vassel, Sochan and Wemby? 2020s offenses scoring 1960s point totals.

[@futurefox635]

I played with Nick Caner Medley on the Bombers in Portland I believe in 2001. He was unbelievable. He was so much bigger and stronger than anyone else and it was not even close. I was just a bench player but I did get on the court with him a few times it was pretty amazing to see close up how easy the game was for him.

[@timboslice8559]

What happened to him he had a good career at Maryland!?

[@futurefox635]

@@timboslice8559 I looked into it a few years ago, he had a good career overseas and made a lot of money from what I could tell.

[@SingleTrackMined]

Excellent! GREAT video. I'm from Newport, played at Nokomis with Cooper's grandfather. Unreal to see Newport on the map. Cooper is the real deal, gonna fill up the stat sheet this season. Can't wait!

[@evwarhonojoshua1885]

Finally been anticipating for a month, im going to save this for a great meal

[@TituzzzD]

💯

[@silewis9396]

A man of culture 🫡

[@alexmata4043]

Honestly. I Kyle Mann’s content is some of the most elite prospect content on all of media.

[@j.canyonsjoblom9840]

From a first time caller, this channel is critically unseen. GREAT insight, writing, and production. * enthusiastically subscribed

[@carlosmontecillo9207]

Everytime i watch Ringer NBA content, I learn something new. Great work, J Kyle Mann!

[@churbsmurbs]

Love these J Kyle Mann vids

[@NateArchibaldWithTheFro]

KOC could never make an analysis of a player this deep and well researched. J Kyle Mann is Man Man

[@maxwilliams5106]

it’s a good day when kyle mann + the ringer drops

[@HoopsAficionado]

Apart from elite defence, will Cooper be more of a hybrid threat on offence? Some isos, pick-and-rolls, transition buckets, catch-and-shoot threes and cuts to the basket? I see that being more likely than him turning into a high-level iso-heavy guy.

[@nat_penrose]

Ya that's what I see too. I don't imagine him being an offensive first option on a great team but more of a connector

[@SingleTrackMined]

@@nat_penrose Point forward

[@t4d0W]

IMO the offense part may take a bit of time to develop. Gordon Hayward had solid handles and some passing coming out of Butler as a pro. But it took him 5-6 years to really put it together when he got the highest amount of touches for shots. Even then the most consistent part of his game was a reliable connective-passer type on offense. Which ultimately defined the rest of his career along with his offensive versatility despite not being a high shot volume guy ever again.

[@ChrisHargrave23]

That opening edit was worth the price of admission. :)

[@pm1711]

Possibly the greatest YT intro ever. My freaking mind is blown. Fantastic fucking job 🤯

[@thebigo116]

Great breakdown JKM! Flagg is the best defensive HS player I've ever seen.

[@padude7505]

That intro is nasty good. Talent.

[@Account-cz5cs]

The ringer always makes the best videos when they have intros like this 😊

[@nicolasbeck8687]

Big Cooper Flagg fan, but even greater J Kyle Mann fan ! More videos please !

[@Jsch23]

these are the best basketball videos on youtube hands down.

[@Headysake]

Way to go, Kyle!

[@haeun6053]

Shit, the intro gives me King Geedorah Monster Zero vibes. Great editing

[@colegilfillan8502]

These are my favorite videos. The player comp is tough but I really think he’ll have the impact of KG as a 3/4. Defensive tone setter and genius with an offensive game that is a huge + but not a number 1. Also he’s obviously ultra competitive.

[@lovreantic8969]

The best intro ever was on the Anthony Edwards video a few years back, but this wasn't far off. J Kyle is the best to ever do basketball videos

[@jake_fenton]

J Kyle Mann does it again

[@nf2203]

J. Kyle Mann is THE best at this.

[@TimMobyy]

Born and raised in Maine, the fact that someone from here is even close to being in the NBA let alone the projected first pick is actually insane to me

[@wzrd8827]

i hope these videos never end my favorite on this site

[@rantsreviews3573]

That intro must have taken a week! Real sicko stuff. I love the clip of Bangor's own Joe Campbell hitting the buzzer beater to win the state title in...99? 00? 01? Man that was a long time ago and a huge moment in my high school's history.

[@fortheloveofthegame7412]

Theses videos are the best

[@julianaviles4244]

whenever j kyle mann drops it’s just like when kendrick drops!!! it gets better & better with every listen, recovering & becoming aware of masterpiece(s!)!

[@LongJohnsilver-t7t]

Favorite ringer analyst. Great video, love the draft content.

[@BeatsbyBlanch]

He's baaaack

[@soraito1858]

Intro was so fire🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@brandontingley7059]

Looks like a hell of a rebounder too, with that motor and that type of ups.

[@dumbfoundlimitedmedia6715]

A lot of people won’t understand the work and effort put into that intro 🙌 sheesh

[@noahvantrease3496]

BI and Jimmer jumper mechanics was so realistic it's insane.

[@clubreprogram892]

The Rucker Park game solidified the hype and respect in a black dominated sport

[@mattalley4330]

Portland fan here and am crossing my fingers for the Blazers to get this guy. He would pair incredibly well with players like Clingan, Advija, Scoot, and Shae.

[@ryanreebenacker8702]

Incredible clip work.

[@munkhsambuu]

I'm a Duke fan and my favorite player is AK-47, for me Cooper Flagg is like a gift from basketball gods

[@JP-jd8wr]

I have to see it in the NBA in terms of his offensive development. But the upside is CLEAR!

[@comradepolarbear6920]

w intro oh my god that was beautiful

[@JP-jd8wr]

I was a stiff flexor jumper lol. 6'1" 190lbs and had a 40.5 inch vert with a 6'7 wingspan. I lead my team in blocks and rebounds my senior year 😂

[@badmontad]

J kyle mann should have his own channel

[@sebastianhurley7208]

A cooper Flagg Dime Drop???? LETS GOOO

[@ssojyeti2]

Yo the mask footage is hilarious

[@RRRusan]

Shout out to Nik Caner-Medley! Nice UMD deep cut

[@MauricioBarragan]

Sick Vid.

[@igorpetkovic9987]

Yep, subscribing to this one

[@eggison4life347]

Crazyyy intro that was sick

[@seebogreesy]

J Kyle Mann is a genius communication

[@majormontega]

J Kyle Mann 🔥🔥🔥LFG

[@yezra8563]

He excites me but also scares me in that he feels like a guy with a wildly high floor and ceiling but can be capped hard by a team that uses him incorrectly.

[@apex8373]

We just need more content 😭

[@avancons1]

The king has returned

[@BLACKSHADOW97531]

Insanely sick intro!

[@kitwatson6035]

I love how your vids are well-informed and researched, but still feel like "It's just my opinion"

[@zizzle062]

The Ringer’s most valuable asset: J Kyle

[@TheSportsandFilmFellowship]

Cooper and Clingan parents played together in college and were good friends. Of he goes to Portland that will be crazy !! I think the Nets get him though

[@ryanclegg55]

I get the process of linking Cooper to connective wings who were great defensively, but his upside is higher than that and that's why he's so highly touted. Kirilenko is a solid career expectation, but him reaching his ceiling looks more like Kevin Garnett or Jayson Tatum imo

[@CNeep]

Yea, insane intro! Good job and good video.

[@Blairskirock]

The craziest thing about him to me is his potential for improvement. He's clearly a fast learner and once he gets a taste of NBA competitiveness I think his ceiling is easily an all star starter, perhaps even higher

[@zonneP]

Dang this is an amazing video.

[@kam_12_]

great video as always 🔥, my wizards need him next year😭

[@GinoRussoo]

K Kyle man is actually the best

[@kennygpokerstrategy4917]

Love these vids!!

[@bubby1176]

The Rothstein tweets and DLo clip killed me. You’re a sicko

[@noblevenom2858]

Similar to Scottie Barnes

[@bkelly625]

Better athlete and defender which is saying a lot but he’s not as strong as Scottie probably never will come close. But they are a similar mold of player forsure

[@Justfranktbh]

@@bkelly625 better defender? I doubt that we’ll see in college

[@pauliepockets1249]

Love Coop. Scottie Whippen loading.

[@Thunderstick-y8h]

I’ve watched videos from his detractors , they seem to think he’s just gonna be an average NBA player not a superstar or even an All star, what are they basing this on ? other than his race and maybe balling handling skills.

[@benmck10]

Race is why he's this hyped

[@kellyflagg7012]

🤔

[@Justfranktbh]

Let’s see how he does in college & we’ll tell

[@Thunderstick-y8h]

@@Justfranktbh he’s gonna be 17 when the season starts playing against 23 year olds who have up to 5 years of NCCA experience. I think he’s gonna impress us with his maturity.

[@OJTheBLAK]

Need one on VJ Edgecombe

[@letanefonoti3]

Assuming he doesn't progress any of his weaker skills further (shooting, handle), is Cooper Flagg capable of playing a very high-level version of Draymond Green in an NBA setting? Is that version of Cooper a DPOY guy? If he does improve his weaker skills, what level of player is he? He fills so many "gap" skills rather than traditional offense #1/Defense #1 player skills that MVP players have. He excites me as a basketball fan. I'd love to see him develop into an offense 1A/Defense 1 on a team like the current Knicks.

[@mdvvvvv]

GOAT K KYLE MANN

[@D12FSU]

Flight of the Conchords in the opening clips! LFG

[@gameboycloudy3414]

lol love that intro

[@TrahNO2]

This is the only way to listen to hoops be talked about.

[@rome8180]

I'm kind of worried that Flagg won't get used properly from a defensive perspective in college. Jon Scheyer is obsessed with size above everything else. So far, in all the team footage I've seen, there hasn't been a single Cooper defensive highlight. There used to be a dozen a game in high school. In all the Duke footage, he's been guarding on the perimeter. And he's frequently getting cooked in space by good not great players like Caleb Foster. I don't understand why that's the way you would use Cooper: as an iso defender on a guard. That neutralizes everything he's best at. Shouldn't he be allowed to roam in the center of the lane?

[@rickanderson9360]

I noticed that too, bot sure I'd read too much into that one scrimmage. I'm guessing they basically just said "stick on your guy" with no thought to an actual plan, in fact I heard they were switching up the teams a lot. That said, that Duke team might be scary defensively. Maluach at center, and Sion James did have some outstanding defensive plays they showed (he looks fantastic). Brown that came over from Syracuse was great defensively last year. I think it's very likely that Flagg will be flying around off ball if Maluach or the other freshman center big Pat is playing well in the middle.

[@rome8180]

@@rickanderson9360 Yeah, it's limited footage. We are talking scrimmage highlights plus a couple other clips here and there. So of course it should be taken with a grain of salt. I was just a little bit worried because other players had defensive highlights in those clips and I didn't see anything from Flagg.

[@sloanNYC]

Nicely done. What is always crazy to me is that LeBron was about the same height, 40lbs more muscle, and over 40 inch vertical.

[@koga477]

40lbs more muscle is a stretch

[@errk8093]

What a knockout intro

[@Aaron-nm1ob]

He's definitely going to have a lot of open 3s at Duke

[@ericflanders9442]

That jump flexor bit is gold. Explains why max vert is such a poor predictor of prowess around the rim.

[@sokkenmakers]

Did they mix up the images for hyper and hip?

[@t4d0W]

I never thought to use max vert as a metric for that. Funny part is when the guy described the 'stiff leaper' who didn't need much motion to load up to get their max jump height, the name that popped in my mind immediately was David Robinson. Big reason why he was such a shot blocking menace was him not needing to load up to high point and challenge many shots at the rim.

[@SeeJayTML]

J Kyle shoulda stayed on his channel hes so amazing at these vids

[@kearney2342]

Can't wait for the nets to draft him

[@jacobwilson5584]

Omg its happening!!!!!!!!

[@pmodi1104]

He reminds me of Andrei Kirilenko but more advanced offensively

[@williampowell9366]

I wouldn't yell at you about your opinion about him being a cross of fredette and Ingram I see the smaller guard good shooter aspect jimmer fredette didn't come to mind but I could see it I'll roll with it The person that most came to mind was Kevin Durant when watching him shoot

[@peterattiliobos5576]

The next brandon ingram

[@alandoesexist]

Milk and cereal really did him good