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A few days ago, the NBA world got the shock of their lives. After a decade-long break from the Drew League, LeBron James returned to the competition. He came in with Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan to light the court on fire. Likewise, they gave fans a show with a dramatic finish. However, that wasn’t the most impressive highlight this week. Isaiah Thomas took to Twitter to shower praise on Toronto Raptors guard Malachi Flynn who went ballistic at the Crawsover Pro-Am.

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Flynn made his way into the NBA after one of the most impressive campaigns in San Diego State. The 24-year-old guard averaged 17.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. His performances at the college level were enough to attract the Raptors to him with the 29th pick. However, his transition into the NBA has been rough. Flynn has failed to make his mark and has barely seen any minutes with the Raptors in his sophomore year. Coming in with the expectations of Kyle Lowry or Fred VanVleet, he has surely shown potential.

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However, it looks like the youngster has put in some serious work in the off-season. He showed the world just what he is capable of by going off in a Pro-Am game. Even Isaiah Thomas couldn’t help but compliment the guard, and the former Boston Celtics star feels all he needs is a real chance.

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Young guard leaves LeBron James and DeRozan in the dust

When LeBron James and DeMar DeRozan pulled up at the Drew League, fans knew just what they had coming. Likewise, the two NBA stars delivered. The King went off putting up 42 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 steals. On the other hand, DeRozan was also a killer with 30 points and 14 rebounds to his name. However, that wasn’t even close to what Malachi Flynn produced at the Pro-Am game.

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The 24-year-old put up 73 points and stunned the crowd. He surpassed James and DeRozan’s combined tally and instantly caught Thomas’ attention. Knowing the struggle of the NBA, Thomas saw just what Flynn can bring. He said: “Somebody gonna give him a real chance and he gonna take it to the top? real hoop game!!”

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So far, Flynn has spent just two seasons in the NBA, but he hasn’t been even close to what he was in college. With San Diego, Flynn was a sniper shooting 37% from three. However, since the transition, his three-point percentage has dropped to 32%, Raptors coach Nick Nurse had some words saying the sophomore guard needs to be much better with his shot-making.

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His 73-point outing was proof it is more of a mental challenge than his skills. Flynn was able to create his shot with ease and he is a great floor general. After losing Lowry, the Toronto Raptors are desperate to see Flynn be at his best. And such performance will surely be a boost for the budding star.

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Do you think Malachi Flynn could be a star like LeBron James and DeMar DeRozan? Let us know your views in the comments below.

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Anuj Talwalkar

4,483 Articles

Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist at EssentiallySports, trusted for his real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments. With five NBA seasons and two Olympics coverages under his belt, Anuj stands out as the go-to reporter for the NBA Matchday Newsdesk. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, he continuously refines his hard reporting with grounded storytelling shaped by fan culture and court-level insights. An economics graduate and lifelong OKC fan since the Supersonics era, Anuj combines analytical thinking and a genuine passion for basketball. He’s recognized for both his live news coverage and feature writing, with aspirations to someday interview Russell Westbrook. Anuj’s reporting is marked by its reliability, depth, and strong connection to the pulse of the NBA.

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Veer Badani

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