Blake Griffin Explains Why He Thinks Cooper Flagg Is More Complete Than Victor Wembanyama
The NBA has always thrived on the arrival of generational talents. Every so often, a young player enters the league carrying the weight of impossible expectations, tasked not just with winning games but with redefining the sport itself. LeBron James did it in 2003, Zion Williamson did it in 2019, and Victor Wembanyama took the world by storm in 2023. Now, in 2025, it’s Cooper Flagg’s turn and former No. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin believes the Maine native might be the most complete prospect of them all.
Griffin, who knows the pressure of being anointed “the next big thing,” didn’t hesitate when asked about Flagg. While he praised Wembanyama’s transcendent skill set, he leaned into Flagg’s all-around game, saying the Mavericks’ rookie represents something even rarer: a player with no glaring weaknesses.
“I think he’s the most complete player that we’ve seen come into the NBA in recent memory,” Griffin said. “I’m not saying he doesn’t have room to grow. He still has a ton of room to grow, but I mean, he passes, he shoots, he defends, he rebounds, he seems like a great teammate, he seems like a great kid. What’s the red flag?”
For Griffin, that completeness separates Flagg from Wembanyama. Wemby dazzles with length, shot-blocking, and floor-spacing at 7-foot-4, but Flagg’s value comes from his ability to thrive in nearly every role imaginable.
Flagg’s Versatility vs. Wembanyama’s Dominance
Wembanyama entered the NBA as a once-in-a-lifetime big man, a player who combined the defensive instincts of Rudy Gobert with the offensive creativity of Kevin Durant. His rookie year proved the hype was real: he won Rookie of the Year, earned All-Defensive Team honors, and became an All-Star in just his second season.
But Griffin argued that Flagg’s versatility gives him a unique edge.
“Even Wemby is very complete as well, but Cooper is just able to play so many different positions, guard so many different positions. That’s exciting,” Griffin said.
At 6-foot-9 with elite instincts, Flagg has been described as a “Swiss Army knife” on the court. He can run the offense as a point forward, space the floor as a shooter, anchor the defense with shot-blocking, and switch onto guards without hesitation. In today’s NBA where positional fluidity and adaptability are prized more than ever Flagg fits the prototype perfectly.
The College Run That Changed Everything
The hype surrounding Flagg wasn’t manufactured. His lone college season was one of the most electrifying in recent history. At Duke, he shattered records, posted triple-doubles against elite competition, and cemented himself as a player who could impact the game in ways that go beyond the box score.
Every arena he played in was packed. Every game felt like an event. National broadcasts ran highlight montages of his blocks, steals, and clutch threes. And through it all, Flagg carried himself with poise beyond his years. Scouts marveled not just at his talent but at his maturity, his unselfishness, and his willingness to do the little things that win games.
By March Madness, he wasn’t just the face of Duke basketball he was the face of college basketball itself. His journey to the No. 1 pick felt less like a debate and more like an inevitability.
A Unique Opportunity in Dallas
For Griffin, though, what excites him most about Flagg’s situation isn’t just the player himself it’s the team he landed with. Unlike most No. 1 picks who are asked to save struggling franchises, Flagg steps into a Dallas Mavericks roster stacked with championship-caliber veterans.
“I also love this in Dallas,” Griffin said. “I think they have a really solid team around them. Most number one picks are going to teams that haven’t been doing too great in the past, but I’m just excited for him to start this journey. I don’t know if I have advice. I mean, it just seems like kid’s got it figured out.”
The Mavericks, fresh off retooling their roster after trading Luka Dončić to the Lakers, now boast Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson. That means Flagg will be surrounded by three stars who have won titles, battled through playoff wars, and know what it takes to win at the highest level. For a 19-year-old rookie, that’s as ideal a developmental environment as possible.
Instead of carrying a team from Day 1, Flagg will be able to learn, adapt, and slowly take ownership of the franchise a luxury Wembanyama, LeBron, and Griffin himself never had.
The Pressure to Surpass Wemby
Still, no matter how favorable his circumstances, Flagg faces the inevitable comparison: can he surpass Wembanyama?
That’s no small challenge. Wemby has already cemented himself as one of the league’s brightest stars. His defensive dominance and offensive creativity are unlike anything the NBA has seen before. He has the potential to anchor the Spurs for the next decade, becoming the cornerstone of a championship contender.
But Flagg offers something different a versatility and balance that allows him to shape-shift into whatever his team needs. Some scouts believe that in the long run, Flagg’s adaptability could prove even more valuable than Wemby’s dominance at a single position.
A Veteran’s Seal of Approval
Griffin’s words carry weight because he’s been there before. In 2009, he was the top pick, hailed as a generational athlete who could transform the Clippers. He knows the spotlight, the scrutiny, the hype, and the pitfalls that come with being an NBA prodigy.
When Griffin looks at Flagg, he doesn’t just see talent he sees readiness.
“It just seems like kid’s got it figured out,” Griffin said with a smile.
That, perhaps, is Flagg’s greatest weapon: not his shooting, not his defense, not even his versatility but his poise. In an era where hype can consume young stars, Flagg seems grounded, prepared, and eager to grow.
The Dawn of a New Era
The NBA now finds itself in a rare position: two generational prospects, back-to-back, each capable of reshaping the league in their own way. Wembanyama represents the future of towering dominance, a player who defies physics. Flagg represents the future of versatility, a player who can blend seamlessly into any system and thrive.
Whether Flagg surpasses Wemby or not is a storyline that will unfold over the next decade. But as Blake Griffin made clear, what Flagg brings to the table is special maybe even unprecedented.
The NBA has seen transcendent rookies before. But in Cooper Flagg, it might be seeing something even rarer: a player without limits.
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