Carmelo Anthony Sparks Heated Debate Over Comments on Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey
In a recent episode of Podcast P with Paul George, NBA legend Carmelo Anthony stirred controversy and sparked debate throughout the basketball world with his candid assessment of two of the top 2025 NBA Draft prospects: Duke’s Cooper Flagg and Rutgers’ Ace Bailey.
Carmelo on Cooper Flagg: “We Haven’t Seen a White Boy Like That…”
Carmelo heaped praise on Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick and a standout forward for Duke, saying:
> “We haven’t seen — and not to make this black and white — but we haven’t seen a white boy like that in a long f****** time. That’s when you know he’s really good.”
This remark instantly drew attention for its blunt racial framing. While some applauded Carmelo’s honesty in acknowledging Flagg’s rare combination of skill, athleticism, and IQ, others criticized the phrasing as racially charged—even if not ill-intended. Flagg, a 6-foot-9 dynamic forward, has been dominating headlines since high school, and Anthony’s comments have only fueled the growing hype.
Ace Bailey: The Familiar Star
In contrast, Carmelo described Rutgers’ Ace Bailey—an explosive, athletic 6-foot-9 wing—as a familiar archetype:
> “We’ve seen Ace. We’ve seen Paul George. We’ve seen Kevin Garnett. We’ve seen Tracy McGrady… That’s why he’s not being talked about.”
Anthony’s point? While Bailey is elite, his game mirrors players fans and scouts have seen before, which may explain why he’s not generating the same buzz as Flagg.
Reaction: Respect or Bias?
The basketball community is split. Some say Carmelo’s comments simply reflect how rare Flagg’s skillset is—particularly from a white American player. Others argue the comparison overlooks Bailey’s talent and reinforces biases in how “newness” is perceived in scouting.
Regardless of where opinions fall, one thing is clear: both Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey are elite talents, and Carmelo’s raw take has only intensified the spotlight 
