Do you guys remember Spencer Haywood? His legal battle against the NBA revolutionized the transition between college and the pros. The hardship rule, which allowed players to enter the league early in case of extreme financial difficulties, ballooned into the one-and-done rule we know now. However, it wasn’t common practice in the days of old.
Stars like Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Bill Walton had to wait for a few years before going pro. These players stayed for three to four years and built an unshakeable legacy in the NCAA. However, current stars don’t share that same privilege. Duke’s Cooper Flagg is arguably the best player in college basketball at the moment and is expected to go #1 in this year’s NBA draft. According to analysts, even if he wins a national title, his legacy as a Blue Devil won’t be cemented.
On The Dan Patrick Show, former Villanova head coach Steve Lappas discussed the matter at length. He talked about how there’s a large difference between college basketball of old and the game that is played now. “We’re not gonna see the Bill Waltons and the Lew Alcindors, and even Christian Laettner who was a good pro but wasn’t like obviously a Bill Walton, or Lew Alcindor or even Patrick Ewing—who is one of the greatest college players there ever was.”
Previously, Dan Patrick had brought up how Christian Laettner might have been the last true college star. According to the show host, Cooper Flagg’s dominance might get lost in the footnote of being a one-and-done at Duke, alongside players like Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson, and Paolo Banchero.
Steve Lappas pointed out how the odds are stacked against college stars at this point. The circumstances are completely different now, and the pros pay a whole lot more than they used to! “And even now, it’s gotten even crazier with the NIL and the transfer portal.” Lappas said, emphasizing on how NIL and the transfer portal have changed the game. Athletes currently flock towards the money, rather than a program that fits. “It’s hard for schools themselves to honor guys that are only at their school for one year and then they’re gone!”
There’s no doubt about how great Cooper Flagg is for Duke. The six-foot-nine forward has dominated on both ends of the court this season, and he’s showing no signs of stopping! His legacy will depend entirely on how this postseason goes, and it hasn’t been easy so far. Flagg’s injury gave Duke a real scare, but what’s the situation like with his ankle now?
No complications for Cooper Flagg in Duke’s first-round win
A defensive board against Georgia Tech could have signaled the end of Duke’s hopes and dreams this season. Cooper Flagg’s ankle injury took the world by surprise, even more so when he had to miss the SECT entirely. But the Main Event can’t be held down for too long! He made his comeback against Mount St. Mary’s in the Round of 64, and he looked as good as he has this season.
Flagg played a crucial role in the 93 -49 win against the Mountaineers, putting up 14 points and 7 rebounds in limited minutes. Early on in the game, he showed just how good he was feeling with a thunderous jam on the fast break. Even though he was on a minutes restriction, Cooper Flagg looked ready to rumble!
NCAA, College League, USA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round Practice – Raleigh Mar 20, 2025 Raleigh, NC, USA Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg 2 catches a pass during the NCAA pre tournament practice at Lenovo Center at Lenovo Center. Raleigh Lenovo Center NC USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xZacharyxTaftx 20250320_jcd_bx6_0069
Jon Scheyer was very positive about the his star forward’s recovery. “We were ready for him to play more, but I think the way it worked out obviously was really good. But we were prepared for him to play as many minutes as he needed to.” The Duke head coach said, signaling that he’s fit for the challenges to come.
Duke is all set to play against Baylor on Sunday! It will be interesting to see how both teams size up. Cooper Flagg looks healthy, and the Blue Devils team, Knueppel and Proctor, have been in rhythm for a while now. Unless Norchad Omier has something special up his sleeves, we might be seeing Duke progress to the Sweet Sixteen! Stay tuned to find out what happens.
The post Cooper Flagg’s Legacy Not Safe at Duke as NIL’s Harsh Reality Forces Ex-National Coach’s Bold NCAA Stance appeared first on EssentiallySports.
