Gatorade releases tribute video, custom bottle for Cooper Flagg after 2025 NBA Draft selection

“It’s pretty crazy to look back on the journey I’ve had with Gatorade – from drinking it as a kid to making history with them last year when I joined the roster,” Flagg said in a statement. “There are so many athletes I look up to who have been part of this legacy and I’m excited for what’s next together as I start this chapter in the NBA.”

When he signed his NIL deal last year, Flagg became the first college men’s basketball player to join forces with the brand. In the process, he became part of a roster that includes Caitlin Clark, Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum, among many others.

It was part of an impressive portfolio of NIL deals the former top recruit built while at Duke. Repped by CAA, he also had notable partnerships with AT&T, Fanatics and New Balance.

Flagg became the National Player of the Year in 2024-25 as he helped Duke reach the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. Along the way, he led the Blue Devils in every major statistical category – averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.

As he shined on the court, Flagg also became the top name in college basketball. He left Duke with a $4.8 million On3 NIL Valuation ranks No. 1 in the men’s college basketball NIL rankings. He also sits at No. 2 in the On3 NIL 100 – the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation – trailing only Texas quarterback Arch Manning.

Now, Cooper Flagg will take his talents to Dallas as the second No. 1 overall pick in Mavericks history. His rookie contract is set to be for four years and $62.7 million, according to Spotrac.