'Cooper's just unique': Coach K has high hopes for Flagg's NBA future

The former Duke Blue Devils star, Cooper Flagg, seems to be prepared to be the number 1 selection in the NBA Draft of 2025, and with the Dallas Mavericks winning the NBA draft lottery on Monday night despite having a probability of 1.8% of winning the 6 -inch striker 9 inches, it is likely to go north of Texas.

What makes Flagg, recruit number 1 in the 2024 class, worthy of being the number 1 choice? In the edition of “The Herd” Tuesday, Duke’s former chief coach Mike Krzyzewski described what Flagg loves.

“Cooper is only unique,” said Krzyzewski. “It is very strong. His legs are very strong. Athletically, he is endowed. When you add his athletic ability and his competitive attitude, you have a very special guy. He can really score the ball. I think it’s a good shooter.”

Flagg comes from a spectacular first -year season with the Blue Devils, with an average of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 robberies and 1.4 blockages per game, while shooting 48.1/38.5/84.0. Flagg obtained countless praise: AP player of the year, winner of the wooden award and player of the ACC of the year, among other honors. Then he averaged 21.0 points per game in the five Tournament games of the NCAA of Duke.

If you really select first, Flagg would be Duke’s sixth player to be tasks of no. 1 Pick in the NBA Draft, Art Heyman (1963), Elton Brand (1999), Kyrie Irving (2011), Zion Williamson (2019) and Paolo Banchero (2022) are the other five.

Mike Krzyzewski discusses what makes Cooper Flagg a upper NBA prospect

Flagg would join a team from the Mavericks that comes from a chaotic season that saw them exchange the Luka Dončić superstar to the Los Angeles Lakers for, most importantly, Anthony Davis in February and then finished 10 at the West Conference in 39-43. With the Full Force Health Wise team, the 2025-26 of the Mavericks started five potentiably Irving, Klay Thompson, Flagg, Davis and Daniel Gafford. Just a year ago, the Mavericks were in the NBA finals.

Krzyzewski’s university training basketball was the 2021-22 season, and the assistant Jon Scheyer demanded it. The Blue Devils arrived at the Final Four last season, but lost in a heartbreaking way, blowing a six -point advantage in the last minute against the Houston Couars. Of course, Duke won five national titles with Krzyzewski, who is the first in the history of NCAA with 1,202 victories in his career, 1,129 of them come with the Blue Devils from the 1980-81 season until season 2021-22.

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