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Gilbert Arenas explains why Cooper Flagg will never match Wemby’s two-way impact
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- Gilbert Arenas explains why Cooper Flagg will never match Wemby’s two-way impact
Cooper Flagg walked into the NBA with expectations that would crush most 19-year-olds. Compared to the likes of Larry Bird, even before he played his first official minute, meant every defender was waiting to test him so that each of Flagg's mistakes could be magnified. Yet the Duke stud never shied away from any big moment. Instead, he outplayed more seasoned players.
Whether it was becoming the only teenager to score 30 points in three consecutive games, dropping a historic 50-point performance, or becoming the only rookie alongside Wilt Chamberlain to score 95+ points over a two-game stretch, Flagg kept breaking one record after another.
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Even then, Gilbert Arenas unhesitatingly picked Victor Wembanyama to have a better career than Flagg, believing the Frenchman's two-way impact will never be matched by any other player.
Arenas explains why Wemby will be superior to Flagg
Statistically, the comparison between their rookie campaigns is extremely tight. Wemby averaged 21.4 points per game while Flagg sits at 21.2. And although the 7'4" center dominated defensively by leading the league in blocks (and continues to do so) and pulling down 10.6 rebounds per game, Cooper has made his impact felt differently - averaging 1.2 steals and 6.6 rebounds per game while playing a far more perimeter-oriented role.
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That balance did encourage Gil to acknowledge Flagg's impressive start in the NBA, but made it clear that it will be Wemanyama who'll have a more productive career. In Arena's view, while Flagg might be able to match Wembanyama's offensive output, the latter's defensive production and outright fear just can't be replicated.
"There is nothing Cooper Flagg can do on the stat sheet that Wemby isn't going to have covered. If Cooper is averaging 30 at one point, Wemby's going to be averaging 30. Wemby is gonna kill him in rebounds. Wemby is gonna kill him in blocks. There's really not much in the stat books that Cooper Flagg can get over a player like Wemby ," Arenas said . "He's getting gobbled by that type of player. That's unfair of a comparison."
Flagg can still challenge Wembanyama
Still, there is one piece that Arenas might have overlooked: Flagg hasn't just put up historic scoring numbers; he has done so while playing point guard for the Dallas Mavericks , which was never his natural position. Not only was Flagg defended by the best opposition defenders night in and night out, but he also set scoring records against him despite the Mavericks consistently being hampered by injuries throughout the 2025-26 season.
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Sure, Cooper doesn't have an eight-foot wingspan like Wmeby or the natural height to block shots at will at the rim, but the 19-year-old has shown that he fears no players.
Sure, at this point, the fact that Wembanyama is contending for the MVP award, seems certain to win the DPOY award, and has given the San Antonio Spurs a genuine chance to contest for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference all year long, the narrative swings in his favor. But despite all that, Wemby's 7'4" slender frame will always keep him at risk of getting injured.
And who knows if Flagg gets a healthy team around him next season, he could achieve team success faster than Wembanyama, turning this conversation on its head.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
