In the summertime of 2023, Cooper Flagg reclassified in highschool. This allowed him to graduate one yr 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 title and was the Nasmith Participant of the 12 months in 2024-25. There was hypothesis that the 18-year-old would return to Duke for his sophomore season. Nonetheless, Flagg selected to enter the 2025 NBA draft and known as it his “finest resolution in hindsight.”
Cooper Flagg is snug together with his resolution to declare for the 2025 NBA draft
Each NBA workforce 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 in regards to the draft course of and the choices he made alongside the best way. As soon as the Blue Devils’ season ended, Flagg made a public assertion saying he “wished to return again [to Duke] subsequent yr. Actions communicate louder than phrases, and that was true on this case. Whereas returning to Duke in 2025-26 was an possibility for Flagg, he knew getting into the 2025 NBA draft was a wise selection.
The proficient ahead mentioned if the identical workforce might have returned for subsequent yr, he would have “100%” come again. That was not a actuality for Duke, and Flagg selected to make the very best resolution 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 getting into a novel state of affairs in 2025-26.
Dallas isn’t precisely a workforce 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 yr 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.