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Cooper Flagg has already admitted he has one "dream" as decision deadline approaches.
All eyes are on Cooper Flagg ahead of the decision deadline, and rightfully so.
The Duke University sensation has taken college basketball by storm in his freshman year, dominating both ends of the floor and drawing comparisons to generational NBA talents before even completing his first season.
With his poise, athleticism, and jaw-dropping skill set, the whispers about Flagg’s potential jump to the NBA aren’t just speculation.
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While Flagg has maintained a level-headed approach in public, the signs couldn’t be clearer.
From his dazzling stat lines to his historic NIL endorsements, everything points to an 18-year-old who is quickly outgrowing the NCAA.
Fans, analysts, and front offices alike are already slotting him in at the top of their draft boards.
And it’s even not just the numbers, it’s his own words.
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Speaking to NJ.com, Flagg previously admitted:
“It would be a blessing for me to get drafted [by any] team in the NBA. That’s a dream of mine, to play in the NBA.”
With a quote like that and the whole basketball world watching, here are five compelling reasons there’s virtually no chance Cooper Flagg will remain a Blue Devil for another season.
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20:48 - 09.04.2025
Cooper Flagg Net Worth: Age, Salary, Profile, Girlfriend, Contract, How Rich is the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft?
Find out all you need to know about Cooper Flagg Net Worth: Age, Salary, Profile, Girlfriend, Contract, How Rich is the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft?
Is Cooper Flagg staying at Duke: 5 Reasons why Blue Devils star will declare for the NBA Draft
1. Dominating college basketball in just one season
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Cooper Flagg’s freshman campaign has been a headline reel of brilliant moments.
In his Duke debut against Maine, Flagg tallied 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals in a 96-62 rout.
But it was his 42-point explosion against Notre Dame that truly shook the sport, setting freshman records for both Duke and the ACC.
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ESPN has compared Flagg to Jayson Tatum, Scottie Pippen and Kawhi Leonard.
“[He’s] positionless,” ESPN’s Seth Greenberg was quoted to have said on “Get Up.”
“He is a perfect fit for the NBA. You think Grant Hill, you think Scottie Pippen, you think Jayson Tatum, he fits in the NBA game perfectly.
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10:31 - 12.04.2025
Is Cooper Flag going to the draft? Blue Devils and Wooden Award winner fires warning shot after Final Four collapse
Cooper Flagg says he’s learned lessons from the Blue Devils defeat in the Final Four.
2. Reclassification put him on the fast track
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In a power move rarely seen in high school basketball, Flagg reclassified from the class of 2025 to 2024, making himself eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft.
That was no random calendar shift but rather a statement of readiness.
And according to a Fan Sided report, had Flagg stayed in the 2025 class, he would’ve surely been up against stiff competition for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
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10:03 - 12.04.2025
1 MORE YEAR? Cooper Flagg makes honest admission to Duke fans as decision deadline nears
The Duke star has admitted he will not solely decide his future and will only settle on what’s best for him
3. Major NIL deals point to NBA-Level marketability
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Cooper Flagg isn’t just balling on the court, he’s cashing in off it.
As the first men’s college basketball player to sign with Gatorade, the 18-year-old Maine-native entered brand territory once reserved for icons like Serena Williams and Jayson Tatum.
CNBC noted:
“Flagg is the latest example of what is already a dramatically different college sports landscape than what existed prior to 2021. Since the approval of NIL deals, college athletes have been able to capitalize on endorsement deals in ways they never could before. Players like Flagg, a highly touted prospect and likely NBA star, have been able to net NIL deals, some of them reportedly worth millions of dollars.”
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Cooper Flagg was also named the men's 2025 Naismith National Player of the Year earlier this month, a rare accolade for a first-year player.
4. Experts all agree Cooper Flagg is the No. 1 pick for the draft
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From ESPN to On3, analysts unanimously agree that Cooper Flagg is the top prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Seth Greenberg of On3 put it bluntly:
“He is who we thought he was.
“He’s a dominant player, the Player of the Year, and, more importantly, a guy that can absolutely take over a game – not anytime, just when he wants to.
“That’s the thing that makes him so interesting to me is that he lets the game come to him. His IQ is ridiculous but he impacts winning every single time down the floor.”
Whether it’s the Wizards, Pistons, Hornets, or Jazz landing that golden lottery ball, Flagg is expected to be the first name called on draft night.
5. Delaying the NBA could cost him up to $60 Million
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While Flagg may be earning millions from NIL deals at Duke, those are pennies compared to his NBA ceiling.
A detailed fan analysis recently went viral for projecting the massive financial impact of Flagg staying one more year.
“If Cooper Flagg were to stay for another year and then proceeded to have the best career he could potentially have, he would lose $60 million,” the post read.
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The maths assumed a $10 million NIL offer from Duke, 7% year-on-year cap increase, eligibility for the “Derrick Rose Rule” (30% rookie extension), and eventual supermax status.
Even with 8% annual raises, the opportunity cost is staggering.
Although, it is true that whichever way he decides will still offer him lucrative financial opportunities.
When is the deadline for Cooper Flagg to declare for the draft?
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The official early entry deadline for the 2025 NBA Draft is Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
That gives Flagg just under two weeks to make it official.
Even though there is speculation that his mind is already made up, Flagg insists that he will take his time to decide what’s best for him.
When Is the NBA Draft Lottery?
The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery will take place on Sunday, May 12, 2025, determining which team earns the coveted No. 1 overall pick.
Teams like the Wizards and Spurs are rumoured to be strategising their entire rebuilds around Flagg’s name.
When is the NBA Draft?
Thursday, June 26, 2025 is the date of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
If things go as expected, Cooper Flagg will be the name that headlines a new generation of NBA stars.
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