Cooper Flagg has thrown a major spanner in the works ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft after declaring his intent to remain with the Duke Blue Devils next season.
The 18-year-old sensation is all but guaranteed to go number one in the NBA draft if and when he declares following a stellar campaign with the No.3 team, topping the charts in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks in his freshman season.
This feat marks the first time an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) player has achieved such a record in 25 years, with Flagg’s performances helping Duke sit top of the table with a 21-3 record ahead of its final seven games of the season, starting with Saturday’s clash against Stanford.
Thanks to his efforts this season, the Blue Devils also boast a top-five offence and top-three defence in college basketball, with Flagg racking up more than 20 points in 13 out of his 24 games including a season-high 42 points against Notre Dame last month.
As a result of his standout performances, Flagg has caught the attention of a number of NBA sides and is being tipped as the number one pick for this summer’s Draft. However, the teenager dropped a bombshell claim regarding his future this week, expressing his desire to stay on at Duke for another season.
“I want to come back next year,” he told The Athletic. “I always wanted to play in college at the highest level and compete for a national championship. That sort of thing is what I dreamed about.”
This mindset and his recent comments could now have a serious knock-on effect. Even if he does commit to the NBA Draft, teams could opt to stay away from him if they feel there is every chance he may decide he doesn’t want to turn pro yet and go back on his decision.
Having enjoyed such an astonishing debut campaign, in which he has lived up to every massive expectation and become the favorite to win every National Player of the Year award, this is highly likely, with Flagg potentially himself creating a legacy in Durham, North Carolina, should he stay.
Prioritising a shot at the national championship over an early leap into professional basketball highlights Flagg’s love for the collegiate game, but with it he could be potentially reshaping his career trajectory – a thought that seemed inconceivable a week ago.
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
