Sports
Cooper Flagg, the Duke basketball star and projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, reportedly earned a staggering $28 million through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals during his single college season, according to veteran journalist Howard Bryant.
Cooper Flagg is ready for the NBA after becaming a Duke legend
The financial revelation came during Bryant‘s recent sit-down with legendary broadcaster Bob Costas at “The 92nd Street Y” event. According to the report, Flagg’s lucrative NIL portfolio included a $13 million deal with New Balance and an additional $15 million agreement with Fanatics, all before he played a single minute for the Blue Devils. These earnings put the college freshman in a unique position of potentially taking a pay cut when entering the professional ranks.
Cooper Flagg’s College Earnings Compare To His Future NBA Rookie Salary
The Dallas Mavericks, who held less than a two percent chance to win the NBA draft lottery, now plan to select Flagg with the top overall pick. Financial projections from Spotrac indicate his rookie NBA contract will be worth approximately $62.7 million over four years, averaging just under $16 million per season. Remarkably, this salary structure puts his initial NBA compensation almost exactly in line with what he earned during his single year at the collegiate level.
This unprecedented situation flips the traditional script on amateur athletics, where college has typically represented a financial sacrifice before the payday of professional sports. Flagg’s case illustrates the dramatic impact of NIL legislation, which has transformed college sports since the NCAA policy change in 2021. For context, even established NBA veterans like Grayson Allen – another Duke product – earned around $16 million this past season while averaging 10.6 points over 64 games for the Phoenix Suns.
To maximize his earning potential at the next level, Flagg has signed with powerhouse agency CAA to navigate his endorsement opportunities as he transitions to the NBA. Industry experts anticipate he will continue building his personal brand with additional high-profile partnership deals to supplement his NBA salary.
The Economy Has Changed For The NCAA
Flagg‘s financial success as a student-athlete highlights the rapidly evolving economics of college sports. Currently ranked just behind Texas quarterback Arch Manning as the second-most marketable NIL athlete in collegiate sports, Flagg has leveraged his extraordinary basketball talent and marketability to unprecedented financial gain before turning professional.
For perspective on how extraordinary Flagg’s compensation package is, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum leads the NBA with a $62.7 million average annual salary – only slightly more than double what Flagg earned as a college freshman. This comparison underscores how elite college athletes with significant marketing appeal can now command compensation packages rivaling established professional athletes.
The Mavericks‘ lottery win has generated its own controversy, with some fans suggesting conspiracy theories that Dallas won the right to select Flagg as compensation for trading superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers. Regardless of the lottery’s legitimacy, the Mavericks are poised to add a transcendent talent who enters the league with not only tremendous on-court potential but also an established financial portfolio that puts him ahead of many NBA veterans both on and off the court.
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