Cooper Flagg is being propped up as the next big NBA prospect. The Duke forward is an anomaly, a big who excels at every aspect of the game. Many expect him to take the NBA by storm. As things stand, the belief is that Flagg will declare for the 2025 NBA Draft. But if he chooses to return to Duke next season, he could delay his chances of earning a bombshell payday in the future.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, Cooper Flagg said that he wants to return to Duke for one more season.
“Sh*t, I want to come back next year.”
If he chooses to do so, it would be greatly beneficial for him from a playing standpoint. However, it would delay him earning a monstrous contract in the NBA if he chooses to defer his entry to the NBA by one year.
A standard NBA rookie deal lasts four years, with the players then having the choice to become restricted free agents. Should Cooper Flagg declare himself for the 2025 NBA Draft, his second contract will start from the 2029-30 NBA season. And if Flagg lives up to the hype, he could earn a huge contract extension.
The current NBA rules allow for players to sign a rookie scale extension, with the maximum going up to 30% of a team’s salary cap. According to Front Office Sports‘ calculations, taking into consideration the annual 10% increase in the NBA’s salary cap, Flagg’s maximum rookie scale extension could be worth $398.5 million over five years, paying him about $80 million a season.
This would be a massive contract for Flagg to sign. Even if we take the conservative figure of a 4% increase in the salary cap annually, Flagg’s rookie scale extension could be worth up to $301 million, which would pay him nearly $60 million a season. This would be life-changing money for any player.
Of course, we have to mention an important caveat here. Flagg isn’t guaranteed to make this much when he reaches the NBA. He would have to live up to the potential that he has shown and impress whatever team drafts him to be able to earn that contract.
However, given that players like Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, and Zion Williamson, all of whom were the first overall picks in their respective draft classes like Flagg is expected to be, have all earned the maximum rookie scale extensions during their NBA stints.
So Flagg should have no problem doing the same provided he stays healthy and delivers on the promise he has shown during his time at Duke.
For sporting reasons, it is understandable why Flagg would want to stay another year at the historic college. He just turned 18 two months ago and would be a fresh 19 years of age when he finishes up at Duke if he chooses to stay, still leaving him as a top prospect.
But given the amount of money he could stand to make if he enters the NBA this year, it is hard to justify any decision to stay. At the end of the day, Flagg will do what is best for him, his career, and his family.
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