Some fans kept the hope alive. Those words–“I want to come back next year”–felt like a promise, a glimmer of hope. But then came the truth. Cooper Flagg is heading to the NBA. The Maine Event has officially declared for the draft. Just like that, his Duke chapter ends. What a wild ride it was. At 6’9”, the freshman phenom made history, becoming just the fifth freshman ever to win the Wooden Award. He leaves with memories that’ll last forever–big wins, multiple records broken. But still, there’s that lingering “what if.”
It was a year to remember for Cooper Flagg. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game–leading Duke in every major stat line. Points. Rebounds. Assists. Steals. Blocks. He did it all. More than just numbers, he delivered wins. The Blue Devils claimed the ACC regular season title, took home the ACC Tournament crown, and made a deep run all the way to the Final Four. But it could have been way more.
He could’ve walked away from Duke as a national champion. But he fell two wins short. The greatest freshman season ever (arguably) just wasn’t meant to be. Cooper Flagg had the shot to win it against Houston. But it rimmed out. Maybe, just maybe, that miss still plays in his mind. Some fans thought he’d come back. Run it back. Chase the title one more time. But that’s not how the story ends. One ESPN analyst is convinced that this is a decision Cooper Flagg will regret.
Tim Donnelly from the 99.9 The Fan podcast believes Cooper Flagg should’ve followed in Jay Williams’ footsteps. He used the Duke legend as a prime example, pointing out how Flagg might now be haunted by that missed shot against Houston. “Jay Williams at the time was the player of the year,” Donnelly said.
“I think he was a Sporting News rookie of the year, freshman of the year. He was on a team with Battier and all these guys and they lost in the Sweet 16 in his freshman year. He averaged double figures—he was a starting point guard for one of the best teams in the country.” Jay Williams hit the ground running and made an instant impact at Duke. As a freshman, he became one of the few in school history to average double figures in scoring, which immediately turned heads. He averaged 14.5 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game.
Despite playing alongside stars like Shane Battier, Duke’s season ended earlier than expected, falling to Billy Donovan’s Florida squad in the Sweet 16. But instead of jumping to the NBA, Williams made a bold choice–he stayed.
Donnelly continues, “So what happens? He comes back his sophomore year and wins the national championship. And guess what—nobody talks to him about that Sweet 16 loss to Florida coz he can always respond with “Yeah then I got one of
these.” And hold up the the ring on his finger right?…. Cooper Flag doesn’t get that”
That’s certainly the case. Flagg made history that night–he dropped 27 points, grabbed 7 boards, dished out 4 assists, and added 3 blocks and 2 steals. He became the only player ever to lead his team in all five major categories in a Final Four game. But still, he may be just as well, if not better, remembered for that final missed shot. And no matter what, people will always bring up the championship that slipped away.
The good news? Flagg has a shot at redemption. The NBA is next, and that’s where he can silence the critics. So, the big question: where is he likely to land?
Where will Cooper Flagg get drafted to?
First things first–yes, Cooper Flagg has officially declared for the NBA Draft. But it’s not all done yet. He’s got until May 28 to pull his name out if he wants to. The NBA gives prospects some breathing room. They can go through the combine, hear from teams, and test the waters. Then decide if the fit isn’t right, or if they want another crack at college. So he could still very well run it back at Duke again, but that’s quite unlikely.
NCAA, College League, USA Basketball: ACC Conference Tournament Championship – Duke vs Louisville Mar 15, 2025 Charlotte, NC, USA Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg 2 during the 2025 ACC Conference Championship game at Spectrum Center. Charlotte Spectrum Center NC USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJimxDedmonx 20250315_szo_db2_0003
So, who’s going to land him? That’s the million-dollar question, and it all comes down to the NBA Draft Lottery on May 12. Fourteen teams that missed the playoffs are holding their breath, each dreaming of getting that coveted number 1 pick. But three franchises sit in the driver’s seat, at least that’s what the odds say. The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets each have a 14% shot at the top spot. Here’s a look at the odds to land the number 1 overall pick as reported by the USA Today Sports:
1. Utah Jazz: 14%
1. Washington Wizards: 14%
1. Charlotte Hornets: 14%
4. New Orleans Pelicans: 12.5%
5. Philadelphia 76ers/Oklahoma City Thunder: 10.5%*
6. Brooklyn Nets: 9%
7. Toronto Raptors: 7.5%
8. San Antonio Spurs: 6%
9. Houston Rockets: 3.8%
10. Portland Trail Blazers: 3.7%
So who’s it gonna be? Will one of the top three get that lucky pick? Or will a dark horse rise from the shadows and snatch the number 1 pick out of nowhere? Anything can happen! Stay tuned–this is where the drama begins.
The post “Cooper Flagg Doesn’t Get That”: ESPN Analyst Spoils the NBA Drafts for Ex-Duke Star as He Suffers From a Major Lost Cause appeared first on EssentiallySports.
