Byron Scott Defends Larry Bird in Debate Over Cooper Flagg

As Cooper Flagg prepares for his second NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks, he received accolades from former NBA player DeMarcus Cousins on the Gil’s Arena podcast. Cousins described Flagg as a blend of athletes like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kevin Durant. However, some don’t agree with this comparison due to Flagg’s ethnicity. Iman Shumpert countered by referencing other white players such as Larry Bird, emphasizing Bird’s legendary status.

In a recent episode of Byron Scott’s Fast Break, the former Los Angeles Lakers star backed Larry Bird amidst the discussion. While Scott acknowledged that Flagg boasts superior athleticism, he maintained that Bird excels in shooting, passing, and basketball intelligence. Scott named Pete Maravich as the only player near Bird’s caliber and pointed out Flagg’s impressive rookie season averages, which included 21.0 points per game. With expectations rising for Flagg in his second year, questions about his potential All-Star candidacy have emerged.