In the summertime of 2023, Cooper Flagg reclassified in highschool. This allowed him to graduate one 12 months earlier and eligible for the 2025 NBA draft.
After graduating from highschool in 2024, Flagg attended Duke to play basketball collegiately. In his lone season, Flagg was a family identify and was the Nasmith Participant of the Yr in 2024-25. There was hypothesis that the 18-year-old would return to Duke for his sophomore season. Nevertheless, Flagg selected to enter the 2025 NBA draft and known as it his “finest determination in hindsight.”
Cooper Flagg is comfy together with his determination to declare for the 2025 NBA draft
Each NBA staff had the identical objective: To seize the Flagg.@Cooper_Flagg graces the duvet of Sports activities Illustrated forward of the draft 🔥 https://t.co/kd4F2qxZGO pic.twitter.com/aU39YrctYX
— Sports activities Illustrated (@SInow) June 18, 2025
Just lately, Duke’s Cooper Flagg was interviewed by Sports activities Illustrated’s Chris Manix. Flagg was requested extensively concerning the draft course of and the selections he made alongside the way in which. As soon as the Blue Devils’ season ended, Flagg made a public assertion saying he “wished to come back again [to Duke] subsequent 12 months. Actions converse louder than phrases, and that was true on this case. Whereas returning to Duke in 2025-26 was an choice for Flagg, he knew coming into the 2025 NBA draft was a wise selection.
The gifted ahead mentioned if the identical staff might have returned for subsequent 12 months, he would have “100%” come again. That was not a actuality for Duke, and Flagg selected to make the very best determination for himself. He’s the consensus #1 decide, and it could be silly to not enter the draft now. Flagg reclassified in highschool to be eligible for the 2025 draft. The rookie is coming into a novel scenario in 2025-26.
Dallas is just not precisely a staff that’s rebuilding. They’ve loads of win-now expertise on their roster, and Flagg provides to it. He’ll be part of Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Anthony Davis. The Mavericks are only one 12 months faraway from a visit to the NBA Finals. Luka Doncic was the foundational piece of that roster. He was traded away to the Lakers, however Dallas struck gold and landed the #1 decide within the 2025 NBA draft. Nico Harrison can reset the franchise and draft a generational prospect in Cooper Flagg.
