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Duke’s Cooper Flagg Reveals Who Has Final Say on His NBA Draft Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Apr 17, 2025 10:03 PM ET

Duke star freshman Cooper Flagg is facing the biggest decision of his life.

The 18-year-old forward accomplished everything a first-year college player possibly could, short of winning a national championship.

Flagg was tabbed as the National College Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year, and NABC Freshman of the Year while also being named to the ACC All-Defensive Team and ACC All-Freshman Team.

He was also a consensus first-team All-American and first-team All-ACC selection, plus he won the Julius Erving, Lute Olson, and Wayman Tisdale awards.

And while few would blame Flagg if he decided to be a one-and-done Blue Devil and jump to the NBA next season (he’s projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft on June 25), it doesn’t seem like the decision whether or not to leave school is an easy one.

“I’m just going through the process,” Flagg said in a recent interview with Fox Sports. “Really, we haven’t had that much time to talk about it yet. I got the chance to come out here (Los Angeles) and take some time with myself and my family and take some time to reflect on the season I’ve had.

“I’m not in a particular rush. I’m just going through the process, going to talk with everybody I need to, and will make a decision on what’s best for me.”

Many are anxiously awaiting Flagg’s decision.

That group that includes the Utah Jazz, who have the No. 1 overall pick in June’s draft, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer, who would love to have his star pupil back in 2025 to make another run at a national title, and Flagg’s mother Kelly, who was front-and-center during the NCAA Tournament passionately cheering her son on all the way up to the Final Four.

But as for who ultimately has the final say on whether or not Flagg is ready to turn pro, he made it clear that decision is his, and his alone.

“I think it comes from myself,” Flagg said. “Where I see myself, what I want, where my head is at. Both of my parents, my family, my agent, and obviously, my coaches and the staff. Those are the people I will talk to the most.”

While it likely won’t be the deciding factor in Flagg’s decision, it should be noted that one of Flagg’s teammates, fellow freshman Kon Knueppel, declared he was entering the NBA draft on Thursday.

While being without Knueppel, who averaged 14.4 points, four rebounds and 2.7 assists per game this year, is a solid blow to Duke’s lineup, if Flagg did return for his sophomore season, he would have the benefit of playing with five-star power forward Cameron Boozer, his brother, four-star point guard Cayden Boozer, and five-star forward Shelton Henderson next year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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