Duke superstar Cooper Flagg may be a bit more athletic than former All-Star forward Gordon Hayward, but they both have something in common – they know what its like to be the centerpiece of a National Championship-contending team.
Although Hayward carved out a 14-year NBA career that included an All-Star appearance, he’s best known to a lot of basketball fans for leading the Butler Bulldogs to a National Championship Game appearance in 2010, where they came up just short of defeating the Duke Blue Devils. Hayward missed the game-winning buzzer-beating half-court shot in his final collegiate game.
Just prior to Flagg’s ACC Tournament debut against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – he exited the game and didn’t return due to an ankle sprain – Hayward spoke glowingly of the “phenomenal” talent that Flagg is. The 6-foot-9 18-year-old is projected to be the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
“He’s a phenomenal talent, a phenomenal player,” says Hayward in a one-on-one interview of Flagg. “Something that’s really impressive to me about him is most of the guys in the same realm as him, it’s usually a lot about scoring. To me, one of the best parts about his game is just his winning mentality, his competitive spirit.”
Hayward goes into detail, saying that Flagg brings more to the court than just scoring – he impacts the game in multiple aspects to help his team win. The freshman is averaging 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. In other words, he’s impacting the game in literally every way for the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils.
“He does so many things out in the court to help the team win,” says Hayward. “You can’t teach size and the length and his motor. I think his motor is also really impressive. He plays super hard when he’s out there on the court and sometimes guys that are that talented don’t usually have that type of a motor. I think it’s really impressive for him to have that at such a young age.”
Gordon Haywward on Cooper Flagg’s NBA Fit: ‘He Fits Into Just About Any Team’
Flagg is notable not just because of the type of basketball prospect that he is, but because he’s essentially a lock to be picked No. 1 overall. That’s notable because Hayward’s former teams, the Utah Jazz and the Charlotte Hornets, have a legitimate chance at earning the top pick in the draft due to their lowly records. The Jazz and the Hornets are tied with the Washington Wizards as far as projection odds of landing the top pick.
When asked how Flagg would fit in with either one of his former teams, Hayward says he could “fit” in to just about anywhere due to his versatile skill set.
“He’s one of those guys because of all the things I just said, he’s one of those guys that fits into just about any team,” says Hayward. “He’s pretty versatile. He could mold himself into whatever role the team that he goes to needs him to play. That’s a credit to him and his work ethic and certainly I think he’ll become a better shooter. Every team would be happy to have him. That’s why so many teams are doing what they’re doing in the NBA to try to get him.”
Hayward – who is 6-foot-7 and known more for his scoring, shooting and offensive skill set – says he would actually compare Flagg to himself when it comes to an NBA player comparison. He mentions that the comparison comes from a motor and “versatility” standpoint.
“This might be a hot take, but I said this from the beginning, I think he plays a lot like I play,” says Hayward of Flagg. “I see a lot of myself in him. I just think that he’s two or three inches taller and more athletic, longer. But I played very similar to him. I feel like I was a very versatile player, doing a lot of different things for the team.”
The 34-year-old – who retired after last season – says he can also see the Larry Bird comparisons in Flagg. Flagg and Bird are both the same height at 6-foot-9, and Bird was definitely known for his versatility. However, the Boston Celtics legend’s athleticism doesn’t compare to Flagg and Bird was never a shot blocker like the 6-foot-9 phenom is.
“The Larry (Bird) comparisons are probably a little bit accurate as well, just because of his height and his ability to do so many different things on like Larry did too,” says Hayward. “But I feel like there was a lot I saw out of my game in him.”
Gordon Hayward Partners With Colgate For ‘Total Active Prevention System’
Hayward is speaking on behalf of his partnership with Colgate for their “Colgate Total Active Prevention System.” Colgate is also the official oral partner of the Big East conference, with Hayward being honored as a conference legend – he played at Butler, which is now part of the Big East conference – during the start of the tournament prior to Butler’s game against St. Johns.
The “Colgate Total Active Prevention System” features a different toothpaste, a “state-of-the-art” toothbrush and mouthwash to prevent gingivitis and cavities.
”It is something where as an athlete, I’m very used to doing stuff to prevent future health problems — called prehab — and Colgate is doing something very similar with the system that they have,” Hayward details. “It’s going to help prevent all of those problems. They have a new toothpaste, toothbrush and mouthwash. As a father, it’s something I’m trying to do, to actively get my kids to brush their teeth.”
The former All-Star details why the partnership is important to him, especially with people that are concerned about their “wellness.”
“I just want to encourage people,” says Hayward. “Everybody’s into wellness. Everyone’s in to taking care of themselves as they should be, and that shouldn’t stop with your mouth. You gotta take care of your teeth and your mouth and your gums and to help, we’ve come up with the active prevention system.”
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