Sports
Cooper Flagg, the electrifying Duke forward, has declared his intention to enter the 2025 NBA Draft, sharing the news via Instagram on Monday. At just 18, Flagg was the second-youngest player in college basketball this season, starting the season at 17 and delivering one of the most impressive freshman campaigns in recent memory. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, leading Duke in every major statistical category, a feat no freshman had ever accomplished in the NCAA.
His stellar play earned him nearly unanimous National Player of the Year honors and propelled Duke to the NCAA Tournament. But his season ended on a sour note with a crushing loss to Houston in the Final Four, where Flagg’s missed shot in the final seconds sealed Duke’s fate. That moment, though a blemish, does little to diminish the luster of a year that saw him shatter records and cement his status as a can’t-miss prospect. Flagg joined Kevin Durant (2007), Anthony Davis (2012) and Zion Williamson (2019) as the only rookies to win National Player of the Year honors, though Davis remains the only one to win a national championship in the same year.
A Duke Star Who Caught Micah Parsons’ Eye
Flagg’s brilliance at Duke didn’t just turn heads in basketball circles, it caught the attention of top athletes like Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys. After Flagg’s draft announcement, Parsons dropped a succinct but telling comment on Instagram: “Duke legend.” It’s high praise from an NFL player looking to redefine his own sport’s pay scale, and it underscores Flagg’s broader cultural impact. Even in that heartbreaking loss to Houston, Flagg etched his name in the record books as the first player since steals and blocks were tracked to lead or tie his team in every major statistic during a Final Four game, finishing with 27 points, seven boards, four assists, three blocks and two steals.
His highlights, like a 42-point explosion against Notre Dame that set the ACC freshman single-game scoring mark, earned him the Wooden Award and a slew of accolades. When he goes No. 1, he’ll be Duke’s sixth top pick, more than any other program, joining Zion Williamson (2019) and Paolo Banchero (2022) from recent years. That missed shot? It’ll fade quickly once he steps onto an NBA court.
Which Team Will Snag Flagg?
With the draft lottery set for May 12, the chatter about Flagg’s landing spot is heating up. The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets – all saddled with dismal records this season – are the early favorites to nab the top pick. The Hornets, despite a rough decade with just one playoff trip, might be the most exciting fit. Imagine Flagg alongside LaMelo Ball’s flair and Brandon Miller’s upside – a trio built for tomorrow. The Jazz have Lauri Markkanen, a lanky sharpshooter like Flagg, but their frontcourt is already loaded with John Collins, Walker Kessler and Duke alum Kyle Filipowski. The Wizards, meanwhile, feel like a long shot; their 33 wins in two years scream rebuilding, but not necessarily progress. Charlotte’s mix of youth and potential could give Flagg the perfect stage to shine.
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