Coach K Rates Cooper Flagg’s Freshman Season Higher Than Zion Williamson’s at Duke

Coach K drops the hammer on the 'best freshman' in Duke with the future Mavs' draft pick Cooper Flagg receiving all the praise.

Coach K Rates Cooper Flagg’s Freshman Season Higher Than Zion Williamson’s at Duke

Cooper Flagg (Image by FirstSportz)

The Duke Blue Devils have consistently been one of those teams that everyone loves to dislike since the beginning of collegiate basketball. They have as many admirers as detractors, making them a formidable force. The fact that they have always had a rotating roster of superstar prospects has a lot to do with it. Mike “Coach K” Kryzyewski mentored most of these superstars during his decades as their coach.

He is, therefore, the best person to rank Duke players. And he ultimately settled the argument between Cooper Flagg, Christian Laettner, and Grant Hill in a recent interview. Not only the Duke stars, but Coach K also put Flagg over the likes of Zion Williamson and Jayson Tatum as well. Such confidence coming from Coach K speaks volumes of Flagg’s talent ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.

Grant (Hill) is the best player to ever play at Duke, Laettner is the most accomplished…Cooper is definitely the best Freshman that has ever played.

Coach K said

It is a significant achievement in and of itself to be ranked alongside Laettner and Hill as the greatest players to ever wear the Duke shoe. In his only season with the Blue Devils, Flagg nearly led the team to a championship.

When we consider Flagg’s outstanding freshman stats, it’s difficult to argue with Coach Kryzyewski, even though he didn’t lead the squad to a national championship. With an average of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game, Flagg topped the team in every significant category and solidified his position as the 2025 NBA Draft’s first overall choice.

Going forward in his professional basketball career, the Dallas Mavericks, who recently won the first pick in the NBA draft lottery, are predicted to select Flagg with the first overall pick. Flagg will become one of the top picks to come from Duke, with Art Heyman (1963), Elton Brand (1999), Kyrie Irving (2011), Zion Williamson (2019), and Paolo Banchero (2022).

Cooper Flagg’s NIL earnings are far more than his projected rookie NBA salary

Flagg lived up to the anticipation as the nation’s top overall recruit, guiding Duke to a 35-4 record and a Final Four berth while winning awards such as the Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year and the ACC Player of the Year. But as we all know, his influence went well beyond the court in the modern world.

According to reports, his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) profits skyrocketed, even exceeding his anticipated NBA rookie contract. Sports journalist Howard Bryant disclosed in an interview with Bob Costas that Flagg’s NIL profits at Duke came to an incredible $28 million.

Flagg, who was surprisingly selected by the Dallas Mavericks as the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is expected to sign a four-year rookie contract worth $62.7 million, which includes $13.8 million in the first year. It is noteworthy that his NIL earnings of $28 million at Duke are more than twice his NBA rookie pay.

Udonis Haslem had a wild take regarding Cooper Flagg and Giannis Antetokounmpo

Miami Heat greats Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem offered their opinions on the most recent episode of The OGs podcast. They put forth a daring hypothesis: what if Cooper Flagg, the most desirable prospect in the upcoming draft, was offered by Nico Harrison and the Dallas Mavericks in an attempt to get Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo?

As great as Cooper Flagg has the ability to be, we know what Giannis is, If you bring Giannis in, ain’t nobody saying nothing.

Udonis Haslem said on the OGs podcast

Naturally, that is, assuming the fictitious deal took place. A different player on that team may also be departing because Nico is not guaranteed to be able to obtain Giannis for only Flagg. Any move Dallas makes would be after Flagg holds up their gear later this month, as he is almost certain to go first in the 2025 selection.

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