**Stop Throwing Him Under the Bus: ESPN Analyst Jay Williams on Cooper Flagg**
The world of sports media is relentless, often quick to build up young athletes only to tear them down at the first sign of struggle. Few understand this cycle better than ESPN analyst Jay Williams, who has been vocal about the unfair treatment of rising basketball phenom Cooper Flagg. In a landscape where hot takes and sensationalism dominate, Williams has taken a stand against the premature criticism and unrealistic expectations being heaped upon Flagg, urging fans and analysts alike to stop throwing him under the bus before he even has a chance to prove himself.
Cooper Flagg, the 6’9″ forward from Montverde Academy, has been one of the most hyped high school prospects in recent memory. His combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ has drawn comparisons to some of the game’s greats, and his commitment to Duke University only amplified the spotlight. But with that spotlight comes an intense scrutiny that few teenagers are equipped to handle. Every missed shot, every loss, every perceived flaw is magnified and dissected by a media machine that thrives on narratives—both positive and negative. Jay Williams, a former Duke standout himself, knows this all too well.
Williams, who experienced the highs and lows of being a can’t-miss prospect before a tragic motorcycle accident cut his NBA career short, has been a consistent voice of reason in the discourse surrounding Flagg. He has called out the impatience of fans and analysts who expect Flagg to dominate every game like a seasoned pro, reminding everyone that development is a process. “We live in a microwave society where everyone wants instant results,” Williams said on ESPN’s *First Take*. “But greatness takes time. Cooper is still learning, still growing. The last thing we should do is bury him before he even gets to college.”
The criticism of Flagg reached a fever pitch after a few underwhelming performances in high-profile AAU and high school games. Social media erupted with takes declaring him “overrated,” and even some analysts began questioning whether he was truly the generational talent many had proclaimed him to be. Williams pushed back hard against this narrative, pointing out the absurdity of judging a 17-year-old’s entire future based on a handful of games. “Since when did we start writing off kids before they even step foot on a college campus?” he asked. “The same people calling him a bust now will be the ones acting like they believed in him all along when he starts balling out at Duke.”
Part of the problem, as Williams highlights, is the unrealistic expectations placed on young athletes in the social media era. Flagg didn’t ask to be labeled “the next Kevin Durant” or “the best prospect since LeBron.” Those comparisons were thrust upon him by a media ecosystem that craves the next big thing. And when he inevitably falls short of those impossible standards—because no teenager could realistically meet them—the same voices that built him up are the first to knock him down. Williams argues that this cycle is not only unfair but damaging to the mental health of young players who are still figuring out who they are both on and off the court.
Another factor Williams emphasizes is the lack of context in how Flagg’s performances are evaluated. Basketball is a team sport, and even the most talented players can’t single-handedly dominate every game. Flagg has often been tasked with carrying his team against elite competition, facing double-teams and defensive schemes designed specifically to stop him. Yet, instead of praising his ability to impact the game in multiple ways—defense, passing, leadership—critics zero in on shooting percentages or point totals as if those are the only metrics that matter. “People don’t watch the game anymore; they just look at box scores and highlights,” Williams lamented. “If you actually watch Cooper play, you see the complete package. But that doesn’t fit the hot-take agenda.”
Williams’ defense of Flagg isn’t just about one player; it’s about challenging a toxic culture in sports media that prioritizes clicks over nuance. The rush to declare someone a “bust” or “overhyped” is often more about generating engagement than offering legitimate analysis. And while criticism is part of sports, Williams believes it should be constructive, not destructive. “There’s a difference between holding someone accountable and just tearing them down for no reason,” he said. “Cooper is working his tail off to be great. The least we can do is give him the space to grow.”
The parallels between Williams’ own career and Flagg’s situation are hard to ignore. Williams was a superstar at Duke, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, and poised for stardom before his career was derailed by injury. He knows better than most how fleeting opportunity can be and how unfair the scrutiny of young athletes can become. Perhaps that’s why he’s so passionate about protecting Flagg from the same pitfalls. “I’ve been in those shoes,” Williams said. “The pressure is immense, and it’s coming from all sides. The last thing these kids need is the people who are supposed to be covering the game piling on instead of offering support.”
As Flagg prepares for his freshman year at Duke, the noise around him will only grow louder. The Blue Devils’ program is a magnet for attention, and every game will be dissected under a microscope. But if Jay Williams has his way, the narrative around Flagg will shift from premature judgment to patience and perspective. “Let the kid play,” Williams urged. “Judge him when he’s had a real chance to show what he can do at the next level. Until then, stop throwing him under the bus.”
In the end, Cooper Flagg’s career will be defined by his own work ethic, resilience, and performance—not by the snap judgments of talking heads or the fickleness of public opinion. Jay Williams’ message is a reminder that behind every hyped prospect is a young athlete navigating an incredibly challenging path. The least we can do is give them the grace to grow.
