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In what is a totally unsurprising move, Duke forward – and projected top pick – Cooper Flagg has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft.
The 6’9 combo forward is considered a generational talent at the forward position, particularly in regards to his ability to play both sides of the floor.
It makes financial sense
For a while, Flagg was rumored to consider a return to Duke for his sophomore season, with NIL compensation being brought up as a way to make that happen.
Yet, what all those rumors seemed to miss was the fact that the sooner Flagg joins the league, the sooner he’ll be eligible for a maximum rookie extension. So while the athletic wunderkind could have earned a similar amount, by staying at Duke, as he would in his rookie season, he would have essentially pushed the so-called “real” money to down the line.
Not only would that not make much sense from a financial perspective, but Flagg would also attach a year in which he could go down with a serious injury.
By expediting his NBA arrival, Flagg can sign a rookie extension by the fall of 2028, instead of 2029 if he had stayed at Duke.
The talent level
Flagg is widely viewed as a coming superstar. His line at Duke – 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks – already tells a story of immense all-around potential, and yet it only scratches the surface.
Flagg’s playmaking is, frankly, ridiculous. Producing over four assists per game at the collegiate level, in which it’s historically difficult to gather high assist totals, underlines how well he reads the floor, and how he reacts to both double-teams, and increased defensive focus.
He not only passes from the post, but also on the move, and from the perimeter. There isn’t a spot on the floor where he can’t find a teammate, and that level of skill, at the age of just 18 years old, is frightening.
His defensive versatility is tailored for today’s NBA, where teams are constantly rotating between switching schemes, zone, and traditional man-to-man. Flagg can do it all, and while the NBA will prove far more physical than college, his 210-pound frame, and elite athleticism, can handle most of it.
The scoring ability
When Flagg entered college, some were skeptical of his scoring prowess, in regards to whether or not he had half-court patience, and capabilities.
That skepticism quickly vaned, as Flagg proved he not only could space the floor (38.5% from range), but also operate in the short-roll, and find shots within the flow of the offense both as a creator, or by moving into gaps.
More than likely, Flagg won’t be handed the keys to an NBA offense from Day 1, and that’s probably a good thing. It’d behoove Flagg to get used to playing off elite playmakers, and in his first couple of years be more of a play finisher, and perhaps a secondary creator. That way, he gets the best of both worlds, and should be ready to take over primary playmaking duties by the later stages of his rookie season.
So, what can fans expect from Flagg in the NBA?
The TL;DR version: Elite defense and play finishing in the initial stages, and likely elite playmaking and overall offensive production as he ages.
It makes all the sense in the world that Flagg is the heavy favorite to get drafted first overall this June.
Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
