Duke Cooper Flagg, the Blue Devils’ outstanding rookie, is largely predicted to be selected first overall in the 2025 NBA draft.
However, the door is still open for him to do it again with Duke. Blue Devils fans would undoubtedly prefer to see Flagg play at least one more season in Duke colors before becoming professional. It is not up to them, however. In the end, it is up to Flagg to make the decision.
According to NBA draft expert Jonathan Givony of ESPN, even if Flagg could make more money by staying in college, that isn’t enough to convince the 18-year-old to stay in Durham. Flagg will continue to make a lot of money in the professionals, and playing another season in college would put him at risk of injury, jeopardizing his NBA stock and future earning potential.
“I think it’s going to be impossible for him to come back,” Givony said in an interview with Chiney Ogwumike on NBA Today. “Delaying the second NBA contract might cost him up to $50 million. And that’s not even getting into the prospect of him getting hurt — knock on wood.”
Flagg is enjoying an excellent 2024-25 college basketball season with No. 2 Duke, which is 27-3 overall and 18-1 in the ACC this season. Flagg’s contributions to Duke’s success are evident, as he leads the Blue Devils in points (19.6 per game), rebounds (7.5), assists (4.2), steals (1.6), and blocks (1.2).
Flagg may improve his basketball resume even more this Saturday, when the Blue Devils play their regular-season finale against bitter ACC rivals the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
