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Legendary college basketball coach Jim Boeheim had high praise, and a lofty comparison, for Duke star Cooper Flagg.
Boeheim, 80, was asked how good Flagg is when compared to some of the NBA’s greats.
"I think he is almost – to me, he’s [Larry] Bird-like, a little bit. Except he is quicker, faster, more athletic, doesn’t shoot it as well, but his shot’s coming," Boeheim said during a recent appearance on OutKick’s "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich."
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In 27 games played, Flagg is averaging 19.5 points per game while averaging nearly eight rebounds and four assists per game.
The 18-year-old Maine native is the catalyst for a 24-3 Duke team that is currently ranked second in the nation behind Auburn.
To Boeheim, it’s clear that Flagg is the best player in the college game.
"People that say other people are better than him just don’t know anything about basketball. I mean it’s just crazy. I mean they’ve got to be – I don’t know what they’re watching. Maybe they are just trying to be contrarian or something, I don’t know," Boeheim said.
"Cooper Flagg, he’s the best all-around player in terms of doing all the things in college basketball that I’ve seen. I mean there’s better shooters, better rebounders, better passers, but he’s a defender."
There is something else Boeheim says Flagg brings to the table in addition to being one of the best all-around players.
"I’ve talked to [former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski] about this. He’s got an edge to him. He’s not backing down from nobody, and in a good way," he said.
Boeheim has seen a lot of great basketball players throughout his long coaching career, including Carmelo Anthony, who helped lead Syracuse to a National Championship in 2003.
Boeheim was Syracuse’s head coach from 1976 to 2023 and amassed a career record of 1,015-441.
Boeheim led Syracuse to the Final Four five times and was the Big East regular champion 10 times while winning the Big East tournament five times.
If Boeheim is right, and Flagg turns out to have a career like Larry Bird's, whichever team that drafts him will be thrilled.
Bird is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was a three-time MVP and three-time NBA Champion while making 12 All-Star games.
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President Donald Trump became the first president to attend the Daytona 500 twice when he visited the racetrack earlier this month.
He met with some drivers on pit lane before he rode in the presidential limousine, "The Beast," as it took a pace lap before the green flag flew.
He also gave drivers a speech before the race.
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Trump’s day was cut short because the race was delayed for a few hours due to inclement weather that rolled through Daytona Beach, Florida, over the course of that afternoon. William Byron won the race for the second straight season.
He talked to Fox News Digital about what it meant for the sport to have the president attend the biggest race of the season.
"It was pretty neat," Byron said. "I think anytime you can have a sitting president come and see your sporting event, it is very special. And for him to take the time to do that was really cool. Just to be able to see the motorcade go across the track and just the various things that he did when he was there was pretty cool.
NASCAR STAR WILLIAM BYRON FUELS UP WITH CELSIUS
"Brought a lot of energy and excitement to the race before it started."
Byron picked up the 14th Cup Series win of his career and entered the club of multiple Daytona 500 winners.
He told Fox News Digital the feeling of being a multi-time winner of the race finally sunk in over the last week or so.
"I feel like it took a few days to really set in, but ever since, I guess last Friday or so, I’ve been able to have a bit more time to think about it," he said. "It’s definitely been special, and I want to try to win more races this year. But it was definitely a great start and something that means a lot to our team."
Byron became a brand ambassador for Celsius.
"It’s a pretty natural fit for me just working out pretty often and training for the races, and Celsius encourages all of us to live fit," he said. "So, I feel like it’s a really important partnership for me because I use the product a lot, and so I think it fits really well."
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