Jayson Tatum Sends Strong Message to Duke's Cooper Flagg

The Duke Blue Devils are cruising through the 2024-25 college basketball season, led by superstar freshman phenom Cooper Flagg.

Flagg joined Jon Scheyer's Duke program as the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 class. And at the conclusion of his freshman season in Durham, he's expected to enter the 2025 NBA Draft as the presumed No. 1 overall pick.

The basketball world has high expectations for Flagg as he makes the jump from college to the NBA. But for now, the Maine native is enjoying his time with the Blue Devils.

Former Duke star Jayson Tatum knows exactly what Flagg is going through in his freshman season. After his one collegiate campaign with the Blue Devils in 2016-17, Tatum was selected by the Boston Celtics with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

During a recent appearance on "The Brotherhood Podcast" with his former Duke teammate Amile Jefferson, Tatum sent some poignant advice to Flagg.

"You're so close to reaching your ultimate dream, which is to play in the NBA, right?" Tatum said. "You feel like, 'I'm only 10 months away — like, I can smell it.' The NBA's not going nowhere. It's gonna be there. He's gonna get drafted. He's gonna do amazing things."