Duke superstar Cooper Flagg will almost certainly be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft. What’s less certain is how he will fare once he leaves the college ranks for the pro game.
Flagg certainly has the size and the polish to be a force in the league, but to what degree that happens right away — presumably with the Dallas Mavericks — is still a question.
Hall of Fame Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski called the 6-foot-9 Flagg the most talented freshman in the program’s storied basketball history after he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in his lone season with the Blue Devils.
Here’s what some hoops experts are saying about Flagg’s prospects in the pros:
Mike Krzyzewski: ‘A very special guy’
“Cooper is just unique. You know, like he’s so strong. His legs are so strong,” Krzyzewski told radio host Colin Cowherd last month. “But attitudinally, when you add what his athletic ability and his competitive attitude, you have a very special guy. He can really score the ball. I think he’s a good shooter, trying to become a really good shooter.”
USA TODAY Sports’ Lorenzo Reyes: ‘An already-polished portfolio’
“Given his size and skill set, and given his ability to play multiple positions on the floor, Flagg should be an instant contributor for the Mavericks and will enter the season as the odds-on favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year. He’s a player with an already-polished portfolio that includes ball handling, passing, rebounding and scoring, all of which means he can find different ways to impact games. And it’s not just against college kids; Flagg’s experience scrimmaging against Team USA — when he was just 17 years old — drew praise from LeBron James, Kevin Durant and others.
“With Kyrie Irving (torn anterior cruciate ligament) set to miss most of the season, Flagg could be asked to assist Dallas with distribution and playmaking, but his best fit is as a versatile wing who can blossom into a consistent All-Star, with a potential arc like that of a fellow Blue Devil, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum.”
ESPN’s Seth Greenberg: ‘Next level’ talent
“He’s going to be next level because they’re not going to ask as much of him because of the (Mavericks) players that are surrounding him,” Greenberg said June 25 on ESPN’s “Get Up.”
“I mean, when they get healthy … he’s playing with Kyrie Irving, All-Star, Klay Thompson, All-Star. He’s got other guys around him, so all of a sudden, the best of Cooper Flagg is his versatility … His ability to make plays … you can actually run your offense through him. He can post up, he can play off the perimeter. … And I didn’t even mention his defensive range because his 7-2 wingspan, his defensive range is ridiculous.”
Will the Mavs be the biggest threat to the Thunder with Cooper Flagg? 👀
“When they’re whole with Cooper Flagg, this team is really, really going to be fun to watch.” —@SethOnHoopspic.twitter.com/580oUGWjSl
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 25, 2025
Morten Stig Jensen, Yahoo Sports: ‘Floor game should flourish’
“Flagg, who is 6-foot-9 and a two-way force at power forward who, coincidentally, reminds many of Mavericks star Anthony Davis, is not only supremely athletic but has a floor game that should flourish with the more spaced-out NBA game. … But as we know, basketball is a fickle beast, and there are a number of factors that can affect a player’s career success.”
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo: ‘Incredible baseline versatility’
“His well-rounded offense and stellar defense give him incredible baseline versatility for an 18-year-old entering the league, something the Mavericks should be able to exploit to their advantage next season. Some around the league have likened him to a modern Scottie Pippen, while Flagg himself has said he patterns his game after Tatum, who is his favorite player.
“If Flagg continues to make strides creating his own shot — where he has flashed comfort level in the midrange but needs refinement — the possibility of a Tatum-like scoring leap is on the table. … If he doesn’t evolve into a legitimate No. 1 option, he might settle best as a second star alongside a more scoring-oriented teammate.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cooper Flagg projections: How will Duke star’s game play in NBA?