Mark Cuban Believes Duke’s Cooper Flagg Has the Drive, Skillset, and Killer Instinct to Become the Next Kobe Bryant
When billionaire entrepreneur and longtime NBA owner Mark Cuban speaks about basketball, people tend to listen. His voice carries the weight of championship experience, years of working with elite players, and an unapologetic love for the game. So when Cuban recently said that Duke basketball phenom Cooper Flagg has the potential to be the next Kobe Bryant, the basketball world took notice. It’s a bold claim, one not made lightly, especially considering the magnitude of the late Lakers legend’s impact on the game. But Cuban, never shy about expressing visionary takes, doubled down on Flagg’s rare talent, unrelenting work ethic, and fierce competitive edge—traits he believes echo the very essence of Kobe Bryant.
To understand the weight of such a statement, it’s important to recognize just who Cooper Flagg is. The 6-foot-9 forward from Maine has been a prodigy in basketball circles for years now. A once-in-a-generation high school talent, Flagg dominated the AAU circuit and international play, becoming the top-ranked prospect in the country. His commitment to Duke gave the Blue Devils an immediate boost in championship credibility for the upcoming season. But what truly sets Flagg apart isn’t just his size, scoring ability, or defensive instincts—it’s his mindset, his obsession with improvement, and his almost mechanical devotion to the grind.
These qualities are exactly what Cuban latched onto in his comments. He wasn’t comparing Flagg’s game to Bryant’s—after all, Kobe was a 6-foot-6 shooting guard with one of the most iconic mid-range games ever, while Flagg is a versatile forward who plays more like a modern Kevin Garnett with three-point range. Cuban’s comparison was rooted in mentality. He saw in Flagg the “Mamba Mentality”—the unshakable desire to win, to get better, and to dominate. And Cuban, who owned the Dallas Mavericks during Kobe’s most destructive runs through the Western Conference, knows better than most what that mentality looks like up close.
Flagg’s path to Duke has already been marked by maturity and focus beyond his years. While some top recruits waver or get caught in the distractions of social media and brand-building, Flagg has consistently remained locked in on development. He reclassified to join the 2024 class early, demonstrating his eagerness to test himself at the highest level. That move immediately placed him in the spotlight as the most anticipated Duke freshman since Zion Williamson—and perhaps even more intriguing due to his complete two-way game.
At Duke, Flagg will be joining a program that thrives on elite expectations. With head coach Jon Scheyer at the helm, the Blue Devils are embracing a new era—one that blends the historical weight of Coach K’s dynasty with the modern pace of today’s game. For Flagg, the spotlight is blinding, but so far he has welcomed it with open arms.
Cuban’s assertion didn’t come in isolation. He reportedly observed Flagg during Team USA scrimmages and elite training sessions and came away impressed not just with Flagg’s playmaking and basketball IQ but with his demeanor. It was quiet, intense, surgical. Flagg didn’t just want to score—he wanted to dominate every drill, crush every assignment, and pick apart his matchups. Cuban, who has seen plenty of “hyped” young stars fizzle out in the NBA due to lack of drive or maturity, recognized something different in Flagg—something eerily reminiscent of the 17-year-old Bryant who entered the league out of Lower Merion High School and immediately began trying to destroy grown men on the court.
But comparisons to Kobe Bryant should never be made lightly. Kobe was more than just a five-time champion and 18-time All-Star—he was a cultural force, a global ambassador, a relentless worker who transformed his weaknesses into strengths and demanded the same from his teammates. His influence on today’s NBA is undeniable, from Jayson Tatum to Devin Booker to Giannis Antetokounmpo—all of whom credit Bryant’s mentality as a core component of their success. To suggest that Flagg could follow that same path is to place him in rare air, and Cuban knows it.
Still, he sees in Flagg the beginning sparks of something potentially transformative. And while the road from college stardom to NBA greatness is fraught with risk, Cuban’s bet is that Flagg has the temperament to survive and thrive in the pressure cooker that is the professional game.
For Duke fans, the excitement is palpable. Flagg isn’t just another blue-chip prospect—he’s viewed as a program-defining player. His presence has already elevated recruiting, brought national media attention, and raised expectations for a deep March Madness run. The last time a Duke freshman carried this level of hype, Zion captivated the country with his high-flying dunks and generational athleticism. But Flagg’s game is different—less flash, more finesse. He plays with a kind of surgical ruthlessness. He reads defenses, rotates like a seasoned vet, and always seems one step ahead. There’s no wasted motion. It’s that calculated aggression that reminded Cuban of Kobe.
Inside the Duke locker room, Flagg is reportedly already making an impact. Veteran teammates and coaches have praised his leadership in practice and his ability to hold others accountable. That kind of presence from a freshman is rare—and again, it echoes the qualities that defined Bryant early in his career.
Flagg’s work ethic is legendary already. Friends and trainers report that he’s in the gym for hours before and after scheduled practice, constantly working on footwork, free throws, film study, or refining his shooting mechanics. He’s also intensely private. He rarely grants interviews and prefers to let his game speak. Even his social media is muted compared to other elite prospects. In an era when young athletes are encouraged to build their “brand,” Flagg seems more interested in building his game.
Of course, there are questions. Can Flagg handle the physicality of college play immediately? Will he adjust to the grind of a long season? Can he lead a team that features older transfers and fellow top recruits? These are all fair uncertainties. But based on everything we’ve seen so far—and Cuban’s confident projection—Flagg is poised to answer them resoundingly.
Duke’s system should serve Flagg well. Scheyer runs a modern, pace-and-space offense that will let Flagg operate in multiple roles—initiating offense from the high post, spacing out for threes, or slicing through defenses off the dribble. Defensively, Flagg might be the most versatile player Scheyer has ever coached. He can guard positions 1 through 5 and has timing that makes him an elite shot-blocker and rim protector despite not being a traditional center.
If all goes well, Flagg could be a one-and-done player in the mold of the greats who came before him. But beyond the draft boards and NBA potential, it’s his demeanor that has everyone—from scouts to billionaires—buzzing. Cuban’s praise wasn’t just about statistics. It was about presence. About watching a teenager carry himself like a 10-year vet. About seeing someone whose hunger matched his talent.
Kobe Bryant used to say, “Rest at the end, not in the middle.” That mantra defined his life and career. Flagg, by all accounts, lives by a similar creed. Whether it’s a pick-up scrimmage or a nationally televised showdown, he brings the same fire, the same focus. Cuban’s comparison isn’t a prediction—it’s a challenge, a gauntlet thrown. And if Cooper Flagg truly is cut from the same cloth, he’ll embrace it, chase it, and maybe one day, fulfill it.
In a sport constantly searching for the next icon, Cuban’s words might end up being more than just a hot take—they could be prophetic. And for Duke fans, that possibility makes this upcoming season must-watch from the opening tip to the final buzzer.
