Cooper Flagg makes 2025 NBA Draft decision

Capture the Flagg is officially on.

Duke superstar Cooper Flagg announced via Instagram his intention to enter the 2025 NBA Draft.

“Duke has always been a dream for me, but I’m excited to announce that I’ll be entering my name into the 2025 draft,” Flagg said in the video,

Duke’s social media account added a message on their social media, “League next. Duke forever. Thank you, Cooper Flagg!!”

Flagg averaged 19.2 points per game with 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists during his freshman season.

The 18-year-old also proved himself to be an all-around player with 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game.

His squad lost in the Final Four to a strong Houston Cougars team, which eventually lost to the national title-winning Florida Gators.

Flagg, in all likelihood, will be the No. 1 pick in the draft, joining Paolo Banchero, Zion Williamson, Kyrie Irving, Elton Brand and Art Heyman as the sixth player in Duke’s history to be selected first.

Any team with lackluster playoff hopes was tanking for Flagg at the end of the NBA regular season, with the Utah Jazz finishing a league-worst 17-65.

They have a 14 percent chance of winning the lottery and the right to draft the prized prospect.

Utah is matched with the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets with 14 percent chances as well to win the lottery, while the Pelicans come in at 12.5 percent.

The Brooklyn Nets come in at No. 6 with a nine percent chance to snag the No. 1 pick.

It had been expected that Flagg would declare for the NBA draft, although there had been some speculation that if a lottery-winning team wasn’t a preferred destination for Flagg, he would stay in school for another season and collect another NIL payday.

The deadline to withdraw from the NBA draft and retain college eligibility is May 28, but it doesn’t appear that is a thought in Flagg’s mind at this point.

The NBA Draft lottery pinballs will be decided on May 12, where each team’s front office will be on the edge of their seat.