Cooper Flagg declares for NBA draft, eyes no. 1 pick
Pranjal Chandra | Apr 21, 2025, 22:23 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Cooper Flagg, the Duke freshman sensation, has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft after a stellar year, where he won the John R. Wooden Award and led Duke to the Final Four. Widely projected as the No.
Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft on Monday, ending months of speculation and solidifying his status as the likely No. 1 overall pick. The 18-year-old forward made the announcement via a video on Instagram, reflecting on what he called the best year of his life at Duke and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to live out a childhood dream.
“It was an incredible year, probably the best year of my life,” Flagg said in the post. “I have so much gratitude. 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. Today’s just the beginning, but I have the brotherhood with me for life.”
Flagg’s freshman season at Duke exceeded already sky-high expectations. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, leading the Blue Devils to a Final Four appearance and collecting numerous accolades along the way. Chief among them was the John R. Wooden Award, given annually to college basketball’s most outstanding player. Flagg became only the fourth freshman in history to receive the honor.
Before arriving at Duke, Flagg was widely regarded as the top high school recruit in the nation. His dominance on the prep circuit, combined with his work with the USA Select Team last summer training against the men’s national squad ahead of the Paris Olympics, further cemented his reputation as a generational talent. That experience against NBA-caliber competition was seen as a critical step in preparing him for the next level.
His rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Even during the season, Flagg hinted at possibly returning to Duke for a sophomore campaign, telling The Athletic in February that he “still felt like a kid” and that college basketball was all he’d ever known. Despite that emotional connection to Duke, the lure of the NBA—and the opportunity to make an immediate impact at the highest level proved irresistible.
With the NBA Draft scheduled for June 25, attention now shifts to the draft lottery, where three teams the Utah Jazz, the Washington Wizards, and the Charlotte Hornets—each hold a 14% chance of landing the first overall pick. All three franchises are in need of a transformative star, and Flagg fits the bill perfectly. At 6-foot-9 with elite vision, a high motor, and the ability to guard multiple positions, Flagg offers a rare combination of skills that scouts believe can translate immediately to NBA success.
His game has drawn comparisons to modern-day point-forwards like Luka Dončić and, in terms of impact and leadership, even a young LeBron James. He’s equally comfortable running the offense or anchoring a defense, and his basketball IQ is often cited as one of his most defining traits.
Whether it’s Utah, Washington, Charlotte, or a surprise lottery winner, the team that lands the top pick in June will be getting more than a player—they’ll be getting a potential franchise cornerstone.
Flagg’s decision closes the door on his college chapter, but it opens the book on what could be one of the most exciting professional careers of the next generation. With the draft just two months away, the countdown to Cooper Flagg’s NBA debut has officially begun.
“It was an incredible year, probably the best year of my life,” Flagg said in the post. “I have so much gratitude. 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. Today’s just the beginning, but I have the brotherhood with me for life.”
Flagg’s freshman season at Duke exceeded already sky-high expectations. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, leading the Blue Devils to a Final Four appearance and collecting numerous accolades along the way. Chief among them was the John R. Wooden Award, given annually to college basketball’s most outstanding player. Flagg became only the fourth freshman in history to receive the honor.
Before arriving at Duke, Flagg was widely regarded as the top high school recruit in the nation. His dominance on the prep circuit, combined with his work with the USA Select Team last summer training against the men’s national squad ahead of the Paris Olympics, further cemented his reputation as a generational talent. That experience against NBA-caliber competition was seen as a critical step in preparing him for the next level.
His rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Even during the season, Flagg hinted at possibly returning to Duke for a sophomore campaign, telling The Athletic in February that he “still felt like a kid” and that college basketball was all he’d ever known. Despite that emotional connection to Duke, the lure of the NBA—and the opportunity to make an immediate impact at the highest level proved irresistible.
With the NBA Draft scheduled for June 25, attention now shifts to the draft lottery, where three teams the Utah Jazz, the Washington Wizards, and the Charlotte Hornets—each hold a 14% chance of landing the first overall pick. All three franchises are in need of a transformative star, and Flagg fits the bill perfectly. At 6-foot-9 with elite vision, a high motor, and the ability to guard multiple positions, Flagg offers a rare combination of skills that scouts believe can translate immediately to NBA success.
His game has drawn comparisons to modern-day point-forwards like Luka Dončić and, in terms of impact and leadership, even a young LeBron James. He’s equally comfortable running the offense or anchoring a defense, and his basketball IQ is often cited as one of his most defining traits.
Whether it’s Utah, Washington, Charlotte, or a surprise lottery winner, the team that lands the top pick in June will be getting more than a player—they’ll be getting a potential franchise cornerstone.
Flagg’s decision closes the door on his college chapter, but it opens the book on what could be one of the most exciting professional careers of the next generation. With the draft just two months away, the countdown to Cooper Flagg’s NBA debut has officially begun.