Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Cooper Flagg, the Duke freshman phenom, has emerged as the consensus No.1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, drawing various comparisons to elite hoopers due to his extraordinary ability to play on both ends of the court. At just 18, Flagg became the fourth freshman in college basketball history, joining Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson, to win the Naismith Player of the Year Award, a testament to his dominance.
Flagg led Duke in every major statistical category, which is a feat unmatched by any freshman since Ben Simmons in 2015-16. His two-way brilliance, blending his outstanding defensive effort combined with his offensive game, sets him apart.
Flagg’s rise from a small-town Maine kid to a global basketball sensation before even entering the NBA has been meteoric. His 42-point game against Notre Dame is some of the most talked about performances in college basketball currently, as he Duke’s freshman scoring record which was held by Zion Williamson with 35 points. Despite Duke’s Final Four loss to Houston, Flagg’s impact capped by 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists solidified his status as a generational talent. Though he didn’t secure the national championship, Flagg is by far the most polished and safest No.1 pick in this year’s draft class.
Cooper Flagg Scouting Report – Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
- Flagg can play all five positions and has the length and the quickness to defend in the post and outside on the perimeter.
- Despite his length and height, Flagg hustles and dives for loose balls like no other, showcasing his tenacity on both ends of the court. Whether it’s grabbing offensive rebounds or vocally leading his team to be better, Flagg clearly has the potential to be the face of the franchise someday.
- Flagg is a three-level scorer, who thrives on the inside, outside, and the mid-range. While his shot selection can look shabby at times, Flagg has shown improvement in his scoring ability in the past few years, and has added more to his isolation game.
- Flagg is a plug-and-play kind of player, who doesn’t need the ball in his hands to dominate. Flagg is excellent in the pick&roll game, and can easily roll to the basket and finish the play off monstrous dunks or alley-oops.
Weaknesses
- Flagg is still not a consistent enough jump shooter. His jumper can at times look shaky and it still requires a lot of work. While he had a decent rookie season shooting at Duke, there have been lingering concerns about if that shooting stroke will transfer to the NBA.
- There have been concerns about Cooper Flagg’s clutchness in the game. In the past we have seen Flagg struggling to make a shot late into the game, when the games are extremely close. The best example of this would be when Flagg missed the potential game-winning shot between Duke vs. Houston in the Final Four.
- Flagg has a much tougher time creating his own shots off the dribble and that could be a problem in the NBA. Shot creation through ball-handling is extremely crucial for players to take that next step, and from what we’ve seen so far, Flagg is far from a finished product when it comes to handling the rock.
Cooper Flagg Stats and Accomplishments at Duke
In Flagg’s first and only college season playing for the Duke Blue Devils, he averaged 19.2 points, 4.2 assists, 7.5 rebounds, on 38.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc, 48.1 percent shooting from the field, and 84.0 percent from the free throw line. Flagg also managed to average 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals, showing his versatility on both sides of the court.
Cooper Flagg’s accomplishments (2024-25 season)
- Led Duke in Points (709), rebounds (278), assists (155), steals (52), and blocks per game (1.4).
- Ranked top-10 in ACC for scoring (3rd), rebounding (9th), assists (8th), blocked shots (6th).
- First ACC player to sweep Player and Rookie of the Week Honors five times in a season.
- Youngest NCAA player to score 40 points, with 42 against Notre Dame.
- Won National Player of the Year by USBWA, NABC, AP, Wooden, and Naismith.
- First NCAA Tournament game with 30+ points, 7+ assists, 6+ rebounds, and 3+ blocks vs. Arizona (Sweet 16).
Cooper Flagg’s Draft Projection
Cooper Flagg is the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, who will, without a doubt, be drafted by the Dallas Mavericks as the team won the NBA Draft lottery last month in May. Flagg is by far the best prospect in the 2025 NBA draft class, and is looked at as a potential superstar to come, in the upcoming years.
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