The 2025 NBA Draft is fast approaching, set for June 25, just as the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder get underway. Duke’s freshman star Cooper Flagg is widely projected to be the No. 1 overall pick and kickstart his NBA career.
Cooper Flagg has been at the top of draft boards for over a year and didn’t disappoint during his freshman season with the Blue Devils. In 37 games, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 48.1% from the field and 38.5% from three-point range.
In a surprising twist, the Dallas Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft lottery, jumping to the No. 1 overall pick. This unexpected fortune means the Mavericks are likely to select Flagg, setting him up with a promising start in the league.
Paul George Predicts Bright Future for Cooper Flagg
Recently, Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George shared his strong endorsement of Cooper Flagg on his “Podcast P” show. “I think he’s going to be an All-Star. When it’s all said and done, I think he’s going to go down as one of the best players our league has seen,” George said. “He’s got that talent.”
ESPN has compared Flagg’s potential to Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, and a Western Conference scout agreed: “Cooper [Flagg]’s really good defensively and can be a game changer on that end pretty much immediately with his size, effort and IQ. He’s always been a very good defender, and the offense is coming along. It’s a very similar path to the one Kawhi was on early in his NBA career.”
While only time will tell how Flagg’s NBA career unfolds, elite potential is clear, and endorsements like Paul George’s add fuel to the excitement surrounding his entry into the league
