Cooper Flagg is set to be the first pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, but he was initially supposed to enter the league in 2026. Flagg is coming in a year early as he reclassified into the class of 2024 back in 2023, and he spoke about that decision during media day before the draft.
“I think a quote my mom likes to say a lot, ‘If you’re the best player in the gym, then you need to find a new gym,’” Flagg said. “So for me, it was thinking about what I had left to do in high school, how much that would push me to become a better player.
“For me, that decision wasn’t too hard,” Flagg continued. “… I kinda knew that we’re gonna have a really, really good team, and then the next year would kind of be a fall-off of the competition and things like that.
“So, I kinda just made that decision based on that, “Flagg added. “I felt it was time for me to kind of get to a new environment and push myself to higher levels … and be surrounded by really great players.”
Flagg’s decision to reclassify and head over to a bigger gym certainly didn’t backfire. After impressing at Montverde Academy, he chose to go to Duke and averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game in 2024-25 as a freshman.
Flagg couldn’t lead the Blue Devils to the title, but was the consensus National Player of the Year. There was never a doubt that he’d be looking to move to a new gym after shining at the college level. Flagg’s exploits at Duke have led to him being set to be the second-youngest first overall pick in NBA history, only behind LeBron James.
James spoke glowingly of Flagg during the latest episode of his Mind the Game podcast and explained why the Dallas Mavericks are a great landing spot for him.
“I personally think he wants to be great,” James said. “He had a hell of a year at Duke. A guy that can do so many different things on the floor — can play with the ball, without the ball. His jump shot is going to continue to get better. Superathletic, quick second jump.
“And, also, he [Flagg] has the benefit — unlike myself — he gets to join a team that is established with Hall of Fame guys: Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Hall of Fame coach Jason Kidd,” James continued. “These guys are gonna give him the whole blueprint while he continues to learn what his blueprint will be.
“And I think that’s gonna be an incredible thing to have, that presence, that leadership, that basketball IQ and knowledge around him every single day,” James added. “I think he’s going to be amazing.”
Flagg is unlikely to have a career as great as James has had, but he is expected to be quite special. He has been compared to some great players, and his workout with the Mavericks, who have the No. 1 pick, reportedly went extremely well, too. It will be fascinating to see how much of an impact he can make from Day 1.
