The spotlight on the 2026 NBA Draft class is already burning bright, and the season hasn’t even tipped off yet. With names like Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and BYU wing AJ Dybantsa leading the charge, this incoming freshman group is drawing comparisons to some of the most hyped classes in recent memory.
The buzz is justified - these prospects are legit. But while the future is getting plenty of love, the present still belongs to Cooper Flagg.
Flagg, fresh off a standout freshman year at Duke and now making waves with the Dallas Mavericks, was once the face of that “next big thing” conversation. And so far?
He’s delivering. The Wooden Award winner has transitioned to the NBA with the kind of poise and production that’s rare for a 19-year-old - especially one carrying the weight of generational expectations.
But not everyone’s buying the hype wholesale. Former NBA All-Star and current TNT analyst Jamal Mashburn recently made waves by saying he’d rank Flagg sixth on his big board if the Duke product were eligible for the upcoming 2026 draft. That’s right - sixth.
Mashburn, who knows a thing or two about entering the league with expectations (he began his own NBA career with the Mavericks), didn’t mince words. He pointed to “holes” in Flagg’s game and questioned whether his ceiling stacks up to the elite prospects in this upcoming class. It’s a bold take - especially coming just two days after Flagg dropped 49 points on 20-of-29 shooting.
Now, whether that’s recency bias, a hot take for TV, or a genuine talent evaluation, it’s certainly sparked a conversation. Because if there are five or more freshmen out there who truly project better than Flagg - a guy already holding his own in the league - then we’re on the verge of a youth movement unlike anything we’ve seen.
Let’s not forget what Flagg did in Durham before making the leap. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game, shooting a clean 48.1% from the field and a sharp 38.5% from deep.
That’s not just solid - that’s star-level production from a teenager playing under one of the brightest spotlights in college basketball. And while sharing the floor with fellow standout Kon Knueppel certainly helped, Flagg was the engine that powered Duke all the way to the doorstep of a national title.
He’s not a perfect player - few 19-year-olds are - but his combination of size (6'9"), skill, and feel for the game is rare. The critiques about his athleticism are fair to a point, but they don’t overshadow the all-around impact he brings. He’s already proving he belongs at the next level, and he’s doing it while still developing.
Mashburn’s comments aren’t the first time someone’s questioned Flagg’s long-term upside, and they won’t be the last. That’s just part of the deal when you’re labeled the next big thing. But what’s clear is that Flagg isn’t running from the pressure - he’s meeting it head-on.
"If I was to put [Cooper Flagg] on that list [of current Freshman], he would be 6th." 😳@jamalmashburn breaks down why this year's top Freshman stand out to him 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/qGkknRPSgp
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) January 31, 2026
Whether or not this incoming class lives up to the enormous hype is a story that will unfold over time. But for now, Cooper Flagg is writing his own chapter - and it’s one worth paying attention to, no matter how loud the noise gets around him.