Cooper Flagg was the most hyped prospect heading into the 2024-25 college basketball season.
After leading the Duke Blue Devils to the Final Four, it’s safe to say that the 18-year-old lived up to all of the lofty expectations.
Via ESPN’s SportsCenter: “Duke’s Cooper Flagg joins Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson as the only men’s freshmen to win the Wooden Award
ELITE COMPANY”
Duke’s Cooper Flagg joins Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson as the only men’s freshmen to win the Wooden Award 🔥
ELITE COMPANY 👏 pic.twitter.com/y1fy9pJlNV
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 5, 2025
Before the season began, Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant spoke highly of Flagg (h/t Michael Scotto of HoopsHype).
Durant (in July): “He looked like a hell of a player. Somebody that’s going to only get better with more experience. 17 years old coming in here playing like he’s a vet almost. No emotion. Just going out there and doing his job. That’s a good sign.”
I asked Kevin Durant for his impressions of potential No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. He replied, “He looked like a hell of a player. He’s somebody that’s only going to get better with more experience. He’s 17 years old coming in here playing like he’s a vet almost. No emotion.” pic.twitter.com/Q1FOn0aT55
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 9, 2024
Durant got to see Flagg up close in Las Vegas (with Team USA), and his assessment of the future NBA star has been accurate.
Checking in with the @usabasketball Select Team’s @Cooper_Flagg in Las Vegas! pic.twitter.com/mHqbGqHrJL
— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) July 7, 2024
Flagg finished the season with averages of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per contest while shooting 48.1% from the field and 38.5% from the three-point range in 37 games.
Via OptaSTATS on February 25: “Cooper Flagg of @DukeMBB has totaled 450 points, 150 rebounds, 100 assists, 40 steals and 25 blocks through his first 25 games in 2024-25.
The only other DI players this century to reach those marks through 25 games of a season are Dwyane Wade (02-03) and Ben Simmons (15-16)”
Cooper Flagg of @DukeMBB has totaled 450 points, 150 rebounds, 100 assists, 40 steals and 25 blocks through his first 25 games in 2024-25.
The only other DI players this century to reach those marks through 25 games of a season are Dwyane Wade (02-03) and Ben Simmons (15-16). pic.twitter.com/x8zxr8u4K4
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) February 17, 2025
As for Durant, he is in his 18th NBA year (and third with the Suns).
