{"id":132951,"date":"2025-05-13T08:00:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T12:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=132951"},"modified":"2025-05-04T10:31:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-04T14:31:29","slug":"cooper-flagg-2025-nba-draft-jayson-tatum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/13\/cooper-flagg-2025-nba-draft-jayson-tatum\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooper Flagg 2025 NBA Draft Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cooper Flagg<\/a> had as good of a year as any college freshman ever. Flagg did not win a National Championship but he accomplished every other possible achievement. Now, it is time for Cooper Flagg to head to the NBA Draft.<\/p>\n

Cooper Flagg 2025 NBA Draft Profile<\/h2>\n

College Career<\/h3>\n

Flagg had as good of a freshman year as any recent superstar. He won ACC Player of the Year, All-ACC Defensive Team, National Freshman of the Year, and swept National Player of the Year awards. Additionally, he led Duke to the Final Four<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While in Durham, Flagg averaged 19.2 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, and 4.2 assists per game. He averaged 1.4 steals per game and 1.4 blocks per game. Ultimately, this should be high school freshman led his team in every statistical category. There were numerous games where Flagg broke some sort of Duke and\/or freshman record, including a 42 point outburst against Notre Dame right after people mentioned he was not a good scorer. Statistically, Blue Devil fans and Jon Scheyer<\/a> could not have asked for more.<\/p>\n

\"Cooper
Apr 5, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) shoots the ball against Houston Cougars forward J’Wan Roberts (13) during the second half in the semifinals of the men’s Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Strengths<\/h3>\n

Flagg\u2019s main strength is that he is incredibly talented across multiple disciplines. He led his team in scoring, rebounds, and assists as a 6\u20199 early enrollee on a top team. It\u2019s tough to be that well-rounded at such a young age with a huge target on your back. Being able to impact winning in numerous different ways is incredibly important to earning minutes on the court. It also can really help to hide some weaknesses. With that, Cooper Flagg has a motor that just will not quit. Whether he is up 40 or down 10 his energy and effort is the same.<\/p>\n

Flagg\u2019s defense is as good as it gets. He can guard 1-4 and is a menace in passing lanes. He is an active defender with great hands who finds the ball often. With that, he ends possessions getting way up for rebounds and starts fastbreaks on his own. In the NBA, he will have no problem guarding any of the elite guards or wings that terrorize defenses. It also is rare that someone excels in help-side and on-ball defense like Flagg. His impact on the defensive end alone would make him a lottery pick.<\/p>\n

Playmaking is so easy for Flagg. Whether he is initiating a PNR, operating out of the high post\/nail, or playing with his back to the basket, defenses are in danger. Charles Barkley<\/a> could not stop talking about how good a passer Flagg was. Duke was blessed with a great offense so that made Flagg\u2019s job easier. The two-man game Flagg ran with Kon Knueppel<\/a> was a great foreshadowing of what to expect in the NBA. Flagg excels in the short role department and puts defenses in a tough spot from the nail as he can kick opposite for a three or throw a lob to the big. He also does well as the ballhandler with a big involved or with a guard in a ghost action. His usage was 31% but he only averaged 2 turnovers per game as well.<\/p>\n

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Cooper Flagg dunk of the year candidate?pic.twitter.com\/MqNtgTiDqN<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Happy Hour Hoops (@happyhourhoops1) January 8, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n