Duke’s Cooper Flagg Declares for NBA Draft: A Journey from Dream to Reality

Duke’s Cooper Flagg Declares for NBA Draft: A Journey from Dream to Reality

In a move that has been anticipated by basketball enthusiasts and analysts alike, Duke star freshman Cooper Flagg has officially announced his decision to enter the NBA draft. The announcement came on Monday, marking a significant milestone in the young athlete’s career. Flagg, who has been a standout player throughout his time at Duke, shared the news via a heartfelt video on social media.

In the video, Flagg expressed his gratitude and excitement, saying, “Duke fans, my teammates, the brotherhood, everybody that was along for the journey. It was an incredible year, probably the best year of my life and I have so much gratitude and I feel so blessed for all the opportunities that I was given. Duke has always been a dream for me, but I’m excited to announce that I’ll be entering my name into the 2025 NBA draft.”

He added, “Today is just the beginning, but I have the Brotherhood with me for life.”

Flagg’s journey to this point has been nothing short of remarkable. As the former No. 1 prospect in the 2024 high school class, he has been considered the prohibitive favorite to be drafted first overall in the 2025 NBA draft since he became eligible upon reclassifying in August 2023. Standing at 6-foot-9, the forward has demonstrated exceptional skill and versatility on the court.

During his lone season at Duke, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, leading the Blue Devils to a 35-4 record and a Final Four appearance. His performance has not gone unnoticed, with Duke coach Jon Scheyer praising his contributions both on and off the court.

“Really proud of Cooper for the special season that he had this year,” Scheyer said. “I think the accolades speak for itself, with what he did, winning every National Player of the Year award. His highlights, his statistics, the ways he impacted the game on both ends of the floor, really in every category, was off the charts. As good of a freshman season that a guy has had here.”

Scheyer continued, “But to me, the separator and the joy of coaching Cooper is the person he was every day, the teammate that he was. Never about statistics or anything other than creating an environment and helping his team to win. And we won a lot of games and had a lot of success and a lot of times that environment is created from your best player. And Cooper did an incredible job in every facet of our program, on and off the court, with what he’s done.”

Flagg’s impact was felt early in the season, as he backed up the preseason hype with a strong showing during nonconference play. However, it was during ACC competition in January that he truly hit his stride. Over the course of the month, he averaged 25.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, shooting 57.9% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range.

One of his standout performances came against Notre Dame in January, where he set the ACC freshman record for points in a game with 42 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists in a win over the Fighting Irish. Despite suffering an ankle injury during the ACC tournament, Flagg returned to form in the NCAA tournament, including a 30-point, 6-rebound, 7-assist effort in a Sweet 16 win over Arizona.

Flagg’s achievements have been recognized on a national level, as he was the consensus National Player of the Year and became just the fourth freshman to win the Wooden Award. His decision to enter the NBA draft marks the beginning of a new chapter in his career, one that is sure to be filled with excitement and opportunity.

• Cooper Flagg: Wooden Award winner and projected No. 1 pick
• Flagg’s stats: 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists
• Duke’s record: 35-4 with a Final Four appearance
• ACC freshman record: 42 points against Notre Dame

As Flagg prepares to take the next step in his basketball journey, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how his talents translate to the professional level. With his skill set and determination, there’s no doubt that Cooper Flagg is poised to make a significant impact in the NBA.