The 2025 NBA Draft just gained its headliner.
On Monday morning, Duke superstar Cooper Flagg officially declared for the NBA Draft, confirming what has long been expected since the moment he reclassified and stepped onto a college court.
Widely projected as the consensus No. 1 overall pick, Flagg made the announcement through an Instagram post, thanking Duke and calling his freshman season “the best year of my life.”
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It’s hard to argue with that sentiment. The 6-foot-9 phenom put together one of the greatest one-and-done seasons in NCAA history. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 39% from three and leading the Blue Devils to a 35–4 record and a Final Four appearance.
Most notably, he became the first freshman in NCAA history to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks over a full season.
Flagg’s list of accolades reads like a career résumé: Naismith National Player of the Year, Wooden Award winner, AP Player of the Year, and the only freshman since Ben Simmons to lead his team in all five major statistical categories.
He capped it all off by joining Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson as the only freshmen to win the Wooden Award.
His signature moment came in January against Notre Dame, when he dropped a Duke and ACC freshman-record 42 points to go along with six rebounds and seven assists.
In the NCAA tournament, Flagg was dominant again, averaging 21.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game, including a 30-point outburst against Arizona and a 27-point effort in the Final Four loss to Houston.
Heading into the season, scouts wondered if Flagg could create his own shot consistently at the next level. He answered that emphatically, showcasing a polished mid-range game, improved three-point stroke, and the kind of offensive versatility that makes him a nightmare matchup.
Combine that with elite defensive instincts, unteachable feel, and alpha-level competitiveness, and it’s no surprise teams have been “tanking for Flagg” for months.
The NBA Draft Lottery, scheduled for May 12, will determine where Flagg begins his professional career. The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets all have a 14% chance to win the top pick, with other teams like the New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets not far behind.
Although Flagg once considered returning to Duke, the risks of injury and the allure of potentially earning $75+ million over his rookie contract proved too compelling to ignore.
With the announcement now official, the chase is on. NBA front offices will be praying for lottery luck, because adding Cooper Flagg means more than just drafting a talented player, it means acquiring a franchise cornerstone. A player capable of transforming a team’s future on both ends of the floor.
The 2025 NBA Draft begins June 25 in New York. Cooper Flagg will be the first name called. That much, at least, feels like destiny.
