If Larry Johnson had been in Cooper Flagg‘s big Blue Satan sneakers, he tells TMZ Sports activities he’d forgo the NBA for yet another yr … and keep put in Durham.

Flagg, after all, is the prohibitive favourite to go on the high of this yr’s draft … however Johnson made it clear to us he’d wish to see the 18-year-old hold round Duke a bit longer.

The School Basketball Corridor of Famer mentioned the additional yr of ACC ball would assist Flagg tremendously in the long term … despite the fact that he is aware of it might be troublesome for {the teenager} to postpone his professional profession one other 12 or so months.

“It is powerful to show down that cash when you are going to be No. 1,” he mentioned, however “to return to Duke and spend yet another yr, simply get them expertise collectively slightly bit extra — I believe that will be a fairly good concept.”

Flagg’s had a heck of a season thus far with the Blue Devils — he and his teammates are taking part in for a spot within the nationwide championship later Saturday — and nearly each NBA draft pundit believes he is on the precipice of an enormous rookie season. However Johnson is aware of a factor or two about staying some time longer in school — he opted for yet another season at UNLV earlier than turning into the 1991 No. 1 general decide, and he says he would not remorse it in any respect.

“Heck no,” he advised us.