Cooper Flagg NBA Draft Prospect Evaluation by Executives

Executives from NBA teams are giving their opinions on Cooper Flagg from Duke University, who is expected to be a top pick in the 2025 NBA draft. Flagg has been considered the best prospect in ESPN’s rankings for the 2025 draft for over a year.

He started the season as the projected No. 1 pick and has only strengthened his position, especially in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) games after turning 18 on December 21. Duke, with a record of 31-3 and 19-1 in the ACC, and coach Jon Scheyer, challenged Flagg to lead their young team against strong, ranked opponents early in the season.

In 20 ACC regular-season games, Flagg’s averages were impressive: 21.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. He was named both the ACC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year and was also recognized as an All-American. Flagg has demonstrated his skills in passing, decision-making, and shooting. ESPN Research notes that he is one of only four Division I freshmen in the last 25 years to achieve 20 points per game with 50% shooting from the field and 40% from three-point range in conference play, joining Kevin Durant, CJ McCollum, and Michael Beasley.

Flagg injured his ankle during the ACC tournament, which made him miss Duke’s journey to the conference title. However, he mentioned on Thursday that he expects to be fully recovered for the NCAA tournament, where Duke is a No. 1 seed and a favorite to reach the Final Four. They are scheduled to play against Mount St. Mary’s on Friday.

According to ten NBA general managers, executives, and scouts, the gap between Flagg and other players in the 2025 draft class has grown significantly in the last three months. NBA executives are now discussing what to expect from him as a rookie and comparing him to previous No. 1 picks.

We spoke with ten NBA executives, who remained anonymous to provide honest feedback, to understand better why Flagg is considered such a promising prospect, what areas he needs to improve, and what to anticipate from him in the NCAA tournament. They also discussed the possibility of him returning to Duke for his sophomore year after he was asked about it following a win against North Carolina.

Regardless of his future plans, Flagg has lived up to the high expectations since arriving at Duke nine months prior.

One executive from the Western Conference told ESPN, “[Flagg is] as ready for the NBA as any of the No. 1 picks in the last decade, if not more.”

Flagg’s Strengths and Comparisons to Other Top Picks

The NBA executives agree that Flagg’s approach to the game, marked by intense competitiveness and constant effort, is both unique and highly valuable for his future team.

An Eastern Conference executive stated that “The best thing Cooper Flagg does is contribute to winning. It might sound like a cliché, but every piece of information we’ve gathered, from interviews with current and former coaches, teammates, trainers, etc., consistently points to this. It’s what motivates him daily.”

This executive added that such a quality is rare and highly desirable in an 18-year-old, especially for a team aiming to improve after a challenging season.

Describing Flagg as extremely competitive, the same executive mentioned that players must match his energy and selflessness, or it will be evident they are not focused on winning.

While Flagg has shown offensive growth this season, scouts emphasize his defensive impact as a key aspect of his game. He is expected to be a versatile defender capable of guarding multiple positions effectively and is a significant playmaker on defense, creating turnovers and protecting the rim with his intensity and timing, largely due to his consistent effort.

A Western Conference scout noted before the ACC tournament, “He knows how to cut off angles and recovers very quickly when he’s beaten. He has great instincts near the basket and moves his feet well on the perimeter.”

Early in the season, scouts considered Flagg to be among the top prospects in recent NBA drafts, although Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in 2023, is still seen as an exceptional talent.

Another Western Conference scout said, “It depends on team needs and preferences, but in the tier right after Wembanyama, Flagg is comparable to any of those top guys.”

Zion Williamson, who played one season at Duke in 2018-19 before being the No. 1 pick, was the last college player to generate similar hype. While Williamson’s style was different due to his strength and explosiveness, Flagg’s performance has placed him in the same conversation regarding expectations.

Flagg and Previous No. 1 Draft Picks

Flagg’s statistics may not exactly match Williamson’s historic freshman year, but his advanced stats, including a 41.1 net rating and 15.4 box plus-minus, highlight his significant impact, especially defensively. His assist-to-turnover ratio is also better than Williamson and other recent No. 1 picks like Paolo Banchero, Cade Cunningham, and Anthony Edwards, showing his development as a playmaker.

His college performance, supported by both statistics and observations, strengthens his case as a top prospect, especially when compared to NBA stars.

A Western Conference general manager mentioned that “The best comparison I’ve heard from our scouts is prime Kawhi Leonard,” referring to Flagg’s similarities to the LA Clippers veteran.

He added that while not a perfect comparison due to different player development timelines, the style of play, two-way versatility, passing, and defensive capabilities across multiple positions are similar.

While Leonard was initially seen as primarily a defensive player when drafted, the GM noted that Flagg is a better shooter, passer, and overall player at the same stage.

‘He’s achieving things that are truly unprecedented,’ said Duke coach Jon Scheyer after Cooper Flagg was recognized as a unanimous All-America selection. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Flagg’s Weaknesses

A key concern among NBA executives is Flagg’s performance in critical, late-game situations.

An executive from a Western Conference playoff team questioned, “How skilled is Flagg at creating his own shot? Can he be relied upon to score when needed late in games? Can an offense be run through him in crucial moments?” He noted that early in the season, Flagg seemed most effective in the mid-post, often using physical play and set moves, and his shot creation appeared somewhat predictable.

The same Eastern Conference GM who highlighted Flagg’s strengths recalled instances where Flagg made turnovers in critical moments during Duke’s loss to Kentucky in November.

The GM stated, “There aren’t many weaknesses in his game. He can defend various positions, pass, dribble, and will have better teammates and more space in the NBA. The only area for criticism is that he’s had opportunities to win games but has sometimes faltered in making the key play.”

While there are questions about Flagg’s ball-handling, finishing, and overall court awareness, there is a general consensus that he will continue to improve.

A Western Conference executive commented that “He’s still not an exceptional ball handler or extremely elusive, but he has improved significantly with the ball. His development as a pull-up shooter is also a major plus. While this aspect of his game still needs refinement, it’s no longer a weakness.”

Impact on Duke’s National Title Chances

Since the start of Duke’s season, Flagg has increased evaluators’ confidence in his potential at the NBA level. Scouts have noted his ability to handle pressure and lead the team to a successful season, enhancing the play of teammates like freshmen Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach.

An Eastern Conference GM admitted, “I expected Duke to be good, but not a top national team. While the ACC might be less competitive this year, I didn’t anticipate Flagg elevating Duke and his teammates to this level at just 17. For him to achieve this and for Duke to be a title contender is something I didn’t foresee.”

It’s rare for players with Flagg’s level of pre-draft hype to meet expectations both individually and in terms of team success. His conduct throughout this high-profile season has solidified his reputation, along with his on-court performance.

An Eastern Conference scout commented on his maturity: “Sometimes, highly-rated young players can be overwhelmed by the spotlight. His consistent selflessness, given the attention and expectations, is remarkable.”

Evaluators are interested to see how Flagg performs in the high-stakes environment of the NCAA tournament. A strong tournament run could further validate their season and provide challenging matchups for Flagg before he potentially enters the NBA.

The same scout questioned, “How will he perform as the stakes increase, drawing more defensive attention? It will be interesting to see how he handles various defensive strategies, especially against elite defensive teams.”

Possibility of Returning to Duke

Despite no indications that a recent injury scare will influence his decision, there’s always a possibility Flagg could return for his sophomore year. In a preseason interview, Flagg expressed excitement about playing for Duke.

When Flagg mentioned in early March that he is “focused on the present,” it wasn’t surprising when he told The Athletic he considered returning for another year. Duke fans at his final home game even chanted “one more year!”

One Western Conference executive believes Flagg’s family will not pressure him either way.

The executive stated, “I would be surprised if he stayed, but perhaps he’s not quite ready for the NBA yet and wants to remain a college kid. We should remember he should still be in high school.” This refers to Flagg’s decision to reclassify and graduate early from Montverde Academy in 2024.

There are examples of top prospects who returned to college, although typically projected as top-five picks, not necessarily No. 1. Marcus Smart, Joakim Noah, and Al Horford all chose to return for another college season despite potential high draft positions.

Once Duke’s season concludes, Flagg has until the NBA draft’s early-entry deadline on April 26 to decide his next steps. A surprising early exit from the tournament could influence him to consider returning.

NBA executives suggest that Flagg’s earnings from NIL deals might make staying in college more financially considerable than it once was. However, ESPN’s Bobby Marks estimates that returning to Duke could cost Flagg between $75 million and $125 million in potential future NBA salary due to delaying his entry into the league and thus affecting his eligibility for larger contracts later in his career. This potential financial loss, along with the risk of injury, makes a second college season a risky choice for a top prospect.

An Eastern Conference scout concluded, “I can’t recall a No. 1 pick ever deciding to return to college.”