Duke’s Cooper Flagg calls his “after-the-fact decision” for the 2025 NBA Draft
Cooper Flagg reclassified in high school in the summer of 2023. This allowed him to graduate a year ago and qualify for the 2025 NBA Draft.
After graduating from high school in 2024, Flagg competed at Duke. Flagg is a household name during his lonely season and is Nasmith Player of the Year in 2024-25. There are speculations that the 18-year-old will return to Duke in his sophomore season. However, Flag chose to enter the 2025 NBA draft and called it “the best decision in hindsight.”
Cooper Flagg is pleased with his decision to announce the 2025 NBA Draft
Every NBA team has the same goal: capture the flag.@cooper_flagg Schematic of the cover of the sports pictorial before the draft pic.twitter.com/au39yrctyx
– Sports Illustrated (@sinow) June 18, 2025
Recently, Duke’s Cooper Flagg was interviewed by Sports Illustrated’s Chris Manix. Flag asked extensively about the drafting process and the decisions he made in the process. Once the Blue Devils season is over, Flag issued a public statement saying he “want to come back [to Duke] next year. Action is better than words, and in this case, it is true. While Flagg’s return to Duke in 2025-26 was an option, he knew entering the 2025 NBA Draft was a wise choice.
The talented forward said he would have a “100%” back if the same team could return next year. This is not a reality at Duke, and Flag chose to make the best decision for himself. He is the draft pick for consensus #1 and it would be foolish to not play the draft right now. Flag was reclassified in high school and was eligible for the 2025 draft. Rookies will enter a unique situation in 2025-26.
Dallas is not a team that is being rebuilt. There are a lot of talent in their roster now, and Flagg adds it. He will join Klay Thompson, PJ Washington and Anthony Davis. The Mavericks only need a year to enter the NBA finals. Luka Doncic is the basis of that roster. He was traded to the Lakers, but Dallas beat the gold medal and ranked No. 1 in the 2025 NBA Draft. Nico Harrison can reset the franchise and draft a generation prospect in Cooper Flagg.
