The Cooper Flagg entering the NBA foregone conclusion became a reality earlier in the day when Cooper Flagg officially entered his name into the NBA Draft. 

Flagg has long been viewed as the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft, and now it's official: the 6-foot-9 Duke forward has declared for the draft following a standout freshman season.

In a move about as surprising as the sun rising in the East, Flagg took to Instagram on Monday to make the announcement. In the post, he affectionately called his single season in Durham the "best year of my life" and affirmed that his declaring for the draft is “just the beginning.” He also emphasized his lasting connection to the program, stating he will be “part of the Duke brotherhood for life.” 

Interestingly, back in February, Flagg hinted at the possibility of returning to Durham.

“I want to come back next year,” he told The Athletic. “I still feel like a kid… This is the only way I’ve ever known college… I feel pretty normal.”

That was nearly two months ago. I guess with the financial rewards of being the No. 1 pick looming — including the start of the clock toward a potential nine-figure contract extension after Year 3 — the path ahead seems clearer now.

WHAT ABOUT THE NIL?
Isn’t the point of the NIL to keep high-profile players in college? Actually, the point of the NIL is to make kids comfortable financially in college. The reality is that for most kids, NIL money is not forever money. Meaning, they are not going to retire on what they make from NIL deals in college. Check out what Cam Newton had to say about NILs. 

FLAGG DELIVERS ON HYPE
Now in college, Flagg actually lived up to the hype that came with being the top recruit in the 2024 class. He led Duke to a 35-4 overall record, a 19-1 mark in ACC play, and both the regular season and conference tournament titles. Among his season highlights was a historic 42-point explosion against Notre Dame on Jan. 11 — the highest single-game scoring performance by a freshman in Duke and ACC history, surpassing Zion Williamson. He also became the first Blue Devil to notch 40+ points in a game since JJ Redick pulled it off in 2006.

The 18-year-old phenom averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game in his lone season with the Blue Devils. He shot 39% from three-point range on 135 attempts while also contributing 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per contest. His all-around excellence earned him a sweep of major national awards, including the Naismith and Wooden Awards, along with Player of the Year honors from the Associated Press, NABC, and USBWA.

While Flagg played well at the start of the regular season, he improved throughout the season, which he continued into the NCAA tournament. He dropped 30 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and three blocks in a Sweet 16 win over Arizona — becoming the first Duke player to post at least 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a tournament game. Though Duke’s run ended with a Final Four loss to Houston, Flagg did put up 27 points (3-of-4 from deep), seven rebounds, and four assists in the defeat. 

THE BOTTOM LINE
In the new world of the NIL, there were some people who held out hope that Flagg would return to Duke for one more season. While all of those people were wrong, I have to say you really can’t blame the kid for declaring for the NBA. Beyond the money, the opportunity to put his skills up against the best in the world was probably a driving force in his decision. 

The 2025 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 25-26 in New York.