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Zion Williamson - English
Cooper Flagg hasn’t played a minute of NBA basketball, but he’s already making history.
Projected to go No. 1 overall to the Dallas Mavericks in next week’s NBA Draft, Flagg is about to become the sixth Duke player ever selected with the top pick – joining elite company like Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson, and Paolo Banchero. But what really sets him apart? According to legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, it’s not just about the draft status. It’s about legacy.
“Cooper is definitely the best freshman that has ever played [at Duke],” Krzyzewski said earlier this month on Sirius XM. Coming from Coach K, that’s not a throwaway compliment – that’s rewriting history.
Flagg didn’t just live up to the hype. He bulldozed it.
He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks, took home National Player of the Year honors from CBS Sports, and dragged Duke to the Final Four. In the Blue Devils’ season-ending loss to Houston, Flagg posted 27 points, 7 boards, 4 assists, and 3 blocks – leading Duke in every major category. No freshman has ever done that in a Final Four since defensive stats became official in 1986.
Where Does Flagg Rank Among Duke’s Best Freshmen Ever?
At the top. Yes, over Zion. Over Okafor. Over RJ and Bagley. As great as those seasons were – Zion’s thunderous dunks and 22.6 PPG in 2019, Okafor’s steady dominance en route to a title in 2015 – Flagg’s campaign checks every box: production, poise, awards, postseason performance, and intangibles.
Let’s break down the rest of the top five:
- Cooper Flagg – Selected as the top of the top.
- Zion Williamson – The most viral freshman of all time, Zion powered Duke to the Elite Eight and won the Naismith. But he didn’t reach the Final Four.
- Jahlil Okafor – A throwback big man with a modern motor. National champ. ACC Player of the Year.
- Marvin Bagley III – Averaged a 21-11 double-double and won conference honors. Reclassified early, dominated immediately.
- RJ Barrett – No. 1 recruit in 2018. Dropped 22.6 PPG and made First-Team All-American.
It’s a loaded list. And still, Cooper Flagg stands above them all – not because he flashed the most athleticism or got the loudest highlights. But because he brought everything together when it mattered most.
This news was originally published on this post .
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