Ace Bailey

DeMarcus Cousins: Draft Ace Bailey No. 1 over Cooper Flagg

Published

May 20, 2025

Apr 24, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center DeMarcus Cousins (4) reacts to a foul in the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Duke standout, Cooper Flagg, is a no-brainer for the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Right?

According to most people, this would be true. If you ask former NBA player, DeMarcus Cousins, there’s another player who should be drafted first overall.

Related: Fans React To Cooper Flagg’s 2025 Draft Declaration

Flagg had a great season at Duke. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Despite these great numbers, Cousins believes the top pick should be Airious “Ace” Bailey from Rutgers University.

Boogie Cousins would pick Ace Bailey over Cooper Flagg with the #1 pick in the NBA Draft ????

"He's the closest thing we've seen to Tracy McGrady."@boogiecousins | @GeorgesNiang20 | @MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 | @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/G9yEyrDxpY

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) May 20, 2025

Cousins believes Bailey is the closest player we’ve seen to Tracy McGrady, and this is why the Mavs should draft Bailey over Flagg. This is a huge compliment—to be compared to McGrady—but is it true?

Bailey had a great season, putting up averages of 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. As a 6’10” guard that can shoot, he certainly could be the next McGrady in the NBA.

Still, Flagg has all the hype in the world and likely a brighter upside. If the Mavericks draft Bailey over Flagg, GM Nico Harrison may likely be chased out of town.

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About the Author Published May 20, 2025

TITAN FREY

Titan Frey is a dedicated father to three wonderful children, whom he takes immense pride in. His passions include reading, writing, basketball, both playing and watching, and playing chess. Titan spent five years working as a journalist for the basketball website fadeawayworld.net, where he served as editor-in-chief for four and a half years. One of his most notable achievements was interviewing Chuck Cooper III, the son of Chuck Cooper, the first African American ever drafted by an NBA team, and writing a biography that has been praised as the most definitive article about Cooper’s legacy. Titan is the author of more than ten novels and the screenwriter of three produced short films. His newest young adult novel, Echoes of the Hardwood: Braxton Foxworthy’s Time‑Travelling Book Report, blends basketball history with heartfelt storytelling and is now available. Order here: https://a.co/d/bo7BYz1