Paul George caught the NBA world off guard by boldly predicting that two current college-level players, who are yet to be drafted into the NBA, have the potential to have a rivalry similar to the one witnessed between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
Fans following George’s activities off the court will know that he frequently records podcasts and uploads them to his YouTube channel. During a recent episode, George was asked to discuss the two young stars and made this comparison.
Paul George Believes Ace Bailey and Cooper Flagg Will Be NBA Superstars
Those who watch college basketball will know that Ace Bailey plays for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. He is listed at 6’10” and has averaged 18.4 points and 7.2 rebounds this season. Given his size and athleticism, Bailey’s skill set is expected to translate well into the NBA when he declares for the upcoming draft.
Another hyped-up prospect who is being compared to Bailey is Cooper Flagg. Listed at 6’7, he has been averaging 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Duke Red Devils. Moreover, Flagg has been making an efficient 49% of his shots.
Since George has likely seen Bailey and Flag in action, he claimed that they could have a rivalry like Bird and Magic, “I think those two will definitely be in the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird comparison.
Considering that neither Flagg nor Bailey has played in an NBA game, one might think George took his praise a bit too far. It is also possible that the racial difference between Bailey and Flagg urged George to compare them to Magic and Bird.
In any case, the NBA is full of superstars who are currently dominating the league and young, hungry players who are getting better at a rapid pace. It is highly unlikely for fans to see anything significant from Flagg and Bailey in the near future.
After all, the team that decides to draft them and their role will play a huge part in deciding what their careers will turn out to be. Moreover, Flagg and Bailey will also have to develop their game and grow at a tremendous rate in order to make George’s prediction come true.
