Skip Bayless is known for his dramatic hot takes after significant games, but he may have surpassed himself following Houston’s thrilling comeback win over Duke on Saturday night. Just before midnight, Bayless took to X to announce, “I’m about to post a video on Cooper Flagg and the clutch gene.”
I’m about to post a video on Cooper Flagg and the clutch gene.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 6, 2025
Flagg and his teammates struggled as Houston overcame a 14-point deficit with just eight minutes left, executing a 9-0 run to clinch a 70-67 victory. Bayless highlighted Flagg’s performance in a 15-minute YouTube video he posted shortly after midnight, linking it to a provocative X post questioning, “WAIT, DOES COOPER FLAGG HAVE EVERYTHING BUT THE CLUTCH GENE?” (An all-caps statement in a post-midnight rant rarely bodes well.)
WAIT, DOES COOPER FLAGG HAVE EVERYTHING BUT THE CLUTCH GENE?https://t.co/Fej6lUt9Po
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 6, 2025
Interestingly, Bayless has previously praised Flagg this season. He began his critique by acknowledging this fact, stating, “This basketball season, I have been in awe of Cooper Flagg. I have proclaimed him the best white American player since Larry Bird. … On The Skip Bayless Show, I even suggested that maybe he’s in the same league as Larry Bird, showcasing all the tools throughout the night.” However, Bayless expressed his disappointment in Flagg’s performance towards the end of the game, emphasizing the importance of the “clutch gene.” “I was in awe of Cooper Flagg tonight, until a minute and 26 seconds remained.”
“I’ve watched Cooper Flagg all year … he should be a high school senior. He is a kid among men, because Houston’s got a bunch of grown men out there. … I kept saying ‘Cooper, take it over. Cooper, close the deal.’” After detailing Flagg’s entire stat line and praising his performance, Bayless criticized him for not being more aggressive during his final shot with eight seconds left while guarded by Houston’s J’Wan Roberts, whom Bayless labeled as a ‘grown-a** man.’
Bayless then drew a comparison to LeBron James, stating, “I thought Cooper Flagg could put a move on (Roberts). You’ve got to create a shot, have a plan, rise, and take a shot that J’Wan Roberts cannot defend. But Cooper Flagg went up with a little hesitation; it wasn’t executed with real conviction … and he made the cardinal sin of leaving it short. Never up, never in, I learned that in high school from my coach.” He added, “You need to get the ball up on the rim, Coop. It’s a win-or-lose shot. … It’s something LeBron has struggled with as well, and I’ve always said LeBron was born without the clutch gene. Now, even though Cooper Flagg is still in high school, I have to ask—does he have the clutch gene? Because whoever drafts him first overall will need to consider this. Can you develop it by age 18 or 19? No.”
Bayless’s take, delivered at such a late hour, didn’t catch many fans off guard.
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Death, Taxes, Skip Bayless questioning if generational talents have the clutch gene. https://t.co/BVIFbTSaWV
— Adam Sheetz (@SheetzAdam) April 6, 2025
Spoken by someone who doesn’t watch Duke. Wonderful. Please refrain from creating narratives for an 18-year-old. You did it with LeBron. Let’s leave it there. No need to tear Cooper down.
— Earl D (@Stacks30) April 6, 2025
