Cooper Flagg seemed destined to make history for much of the NCAA season. The Duke freshman captivated the basketball world as the 6-foot-9 sensation spearheaded the Blue Devils to a 35-4 record, enthralling fans with poise on the court that aged him beyond his years. His impact on March Madness was undeniable, until Duke’s shocking flameout in the Final Four to Houston. The heartbreaking calamity ended the Blue Devils’ championship quest and left Flagg scrambling to add to his individual trophy haul.
While Flagg’s Naismith Player of the Year award cemented his status as the best player in college basketball, it provided little solace for Duke’s missed opportunity. It was difficult for fans to appreciate the award as anything besides another log for the fire when Duke failed to even play in the championship game.
Johni Broome, Auburn’s senior standout, averaged 18.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, with 2.4 blocks, anchoring the No. 1-seeded Tigers to a 32-6 record and a Final Four berth before falling to Florida. His 19 double-doubles ranked sixth in Division I, and he faced a grueling SEC schedule—widely regarded as the toughest in 2025—with 17 games against top-50 KenPom teams (15-2 record).
The narrative of an outstanding freshman leading their team to a national championship was one of the most alluring throughout the entire season. Instead, Duke got a “what could have been” scenario that arguably overshadowed his many individual awards.
But here’s the thing, Flagg’s production was historic All year long, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, on 48% from the field and 37% from three. Flagg took home every major award there was to win: ACC Player of the Year, ACC Freshman of the Year, AP First-Team All-American, the Wooden Award and of course, the Naismith. With that kind of resume, it’s almost impossible to argue that he wasn’t one of the best freshman ever in college basketball. And still, there was that lingering stain of Duke’s failure to win the big one.
However, are any of these individual accolades meaningful if the team ultimately fails to perform? That was something fans also couldn’t agree on, as they questioned whether or not Flagg was truly deserving of his Naismith honor with Duke not being able to make a push for the title. Naturally, fans flocked to social media to share their thoughts as some questioned whether or not Flagg deserved the Naismith after Duke collapsed late.
Fans react to Cooper Flagg being the Naismith NPOY
It didn’t take long for the NCAA community to start sharing its frustration at Flagg’s award. “Broome should be receiving that trophy. What he did throughout the season against the schedule they played. He is more deserving! But…of course the little boy from Duke gets it,” one fan wrote. While another noted, “Go hand that thing to @w1clayton”.
The ‘little boy from Duke’ jab hints at a perceived bias toward Duke’s prestige, a program with five national titles, over Auburn’s gritty, less-heralded run. These kinds of comments sum up the frustrations many feel—was the award about performance, or did Duke’s prestigious name carry too much weight?
Broome should be receiving that trophy. What he did throughout the season against the schedule they played. He is more deserving! But…of course the little boy from Duke gets it.
— Beer Pilot (@aubeerpilot) April 6, 2025
Another critic dug into Flagg’s clutch moments, or rather, the lack of them. “No clutch gene,” they said, probably referring to Flagg’s missed jumper during Duke’s final possession against Houston—a shot that could have made all the difference. And the criticisms didn’t stop there. One particularly harsh comment read, “Accepting that award after that monumental choke job is nasty business.” For many fans, that missed shot seemed to overshadow all of Flagg’s incredible work throughout the season.
But not everyone was filled with hate. Some college basketball fans came to Flagg’s defense and pointed out that he was still just 18 years old facing men much older and more experienced than him. “Sick thing about Flagg is he is ONLY 18!!! 99% of these guys he’s playing against are grown men 23-25!!! I’m not a Duke fan at all, but got to admit this kid is a player for the ages. Legit stud!” And really, that’s hard truth to argue with.
Ultimately, Cooper Flagg’s freshman campaign not just will be remembered for its brilliance but also for its heartbreak. His Naismith honor solidifies his place in college basketball lore, but also twists the knife in a bittersweet reminder of what might have been with Duke.
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