Sports
Talia Padilla - LW English
With the NBA Draft decision deadline fast approaching, all eyes are on Duke star Cooper Flagg.
Widely projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg’s future remains uncertain as fans and analysts wait for a formal announcement.
Cooper Flagg insinuates he is returning another year with Duke
Cooper Flagg sends mixed signals ahead of draft deadline
As teammates Kon Knueppel and Tyrese Proctor have already declared, the focus has shifted to Flagg and fellow freshman standout Khaman Maluach to round out Duke’s draft class.
Flagg’s freshman year at Duke was nothing short of extraordinary.
The 2025 Wooden Award winner helped the Blue Devils dominate the ACC with a 19-1 conference record, leading the team in nearly every statistical category, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
His impact powered Duke to an ACC tournament title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
For most, his one-and-done path seemed inevitable.
But a recent social media post has added a new layer of intrigue.
On April 17, Duke Basketball’s official X account shared a photo of Flagg during practice, one that set off a flurry of speculation.
While the image seemed routine at first glance, fans quickly noticed Flagg sporting New Balance shoes instead of the Nike gear typically worn by Duke athletes.
In a program sponsored by Nike, the unexpected footwear raised eyebrows and questions about whether it signaled an impending move to the NBA, or something else entirely.
Just two days later, Duke posted more photos of Flagg, this time showcasing him mid-dunk.
While the images were simple, they sparked renewed hope among fans that Flagg might stay for a sophomore season.
Comments flooded in, ranging from hopeful pleas to pragmatic reminders that Flagg has every reason to turn pro.
Even head coach Jon Scheyer, when asked weeks earlier about the possibility of Flagg staying, admitted, “I think it’s a dream… I think he’s got to take the next dream in his life and be the top pick in the NBA draft.”
Still, nothing is official.
If Flagg does opt to return, it would send shockwaves through the college basketball world, and instantly elevate Duke to frontrunner status for next season’s national title.
Until he announces, though, speculation will continue to swirl, and fans will keep watching every post and photo for clues.
This news was originally published on this post .
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