Former NBA star Carmelo Anthony and nine-time All-Star Paul George have expressed admiration for two leading prospects in the upcoming 2025 NBA draft, Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey. During a Monday episode of Podcast P with Paul George, Anthony described Flagg as “polished,” while George emphasized Bailey’s “raw” talent, projecting a potential fit for Bailey with the Washington Wizards.
Insights on the Potential of Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey
Paul George characterized Ace Bailey as “the raw talent” in the conversation, clearly impressed with his capabilities on the court. Carmelo Anthony, who is set to enter the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025, also praised Flagg, labeling him “the real deal” and noting the rarity of a player dominating at every level.
“We haven’t seen, in a while, somebody dominate every stop he went to,” —Carmelo Anthony, NBA Hall of Famer
Throughout his freshman season at Duke, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, shooting with efficiency at 48.1% from the field, 38.5% from three-point range, and 84.0% from the free-throw line. His defensive prowess was evident, with averages of 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.
Meanwhile, Ace Bailey proved his shooting ability during the 2024-25 season at Rutgers, averaging 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Bailey showed versatility in scoring, hitting 46.0% of his field goals and 34.6% from beyond the arc. Bailey has even compared his skillset to that of Paul George during the draft combine.
Prospects’ Positions in Recent Mock Drafts and Pre-Draft Process
According to the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, the Dallas Mavericks are expected to select Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick, while Paul George’s Philadelphia 76ers are projected to draft Ace Bailey at No. 3. Both forwards have already made strong impressions on NBA stars and analysts alike as they continue through the pre-draft evaluations.
Significance of Their Emerging Careers
The endorsements from established NBA stars like Carmelo Anthony and Paul George signal high expectations for Flagg and Bailey, highlighting their potential impact on the league. As the 2025 NBA draft approaches, these promising talents could shape the future of their prospective teams, particularly with Bailey possibly strengthening the Wizards’ roster and Flagg set to join the Mavericks.