Speculation surrounding Cooper Flagg’s future, widely regarded as the unanimous number one overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA draft, is currently prominent.
As the NBA Draft approaches, the world has been captivated by recent betting odds that suggest a surprising possibility: Duke star Cooper Flagg is favored to return to Duke University instead of transitioning to the NBA. According to Bovada, the odds of Flagg staying at Duke are listed at +290, making it the favored option compared to his likelihood of joining the Charlotte Hornets (+550), Washington Wizards (+550), or Utah Jazz (+550). These odds paint an intriguing picture of where Flagg’s career might be headed next.
The idea that Flagg may stay at Duke rather than enter the NBA is not far-fetched.
First and foremost, Flagg could benefit from another season of development under head coach Jon Scheyer, refining his skills against top-tier collegiate competition before facing the demands of playing against the world’s best.
Additionally, the new landscape of college basketball, fueled by Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, allows superstars like Flagg to earn significant income without making the jump to the NBA prematurely. For instance, according to multiple sources, Flagg has a NIL evaluation of just under 5 million dollars as a freshman in college. With NIL deals offering lucrative sponsorships, the financial gap between college and the NBA has shrunk considerably, making a return to Duke more viable than it has been in years past.
Another factor influencing Flagg’s decision could be the uncertainty of who’s going to land the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft class. Assuming Flagg is the number one overall pick, players and agents are increasingly focused on a player’s career trajectory—whether that’s premature or not. With the NBA more competitive than ever, players need to land in a situation where they can develop their skills, learn what it takes to be a true professional, and contribute to winning.
As it stands, the Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and Utah Jazz are all tied with +550 odds on Bovada for teams currently projected as potential landing spots for Flagg and are all in various stages of rebuilding, leaving these destinations not very desirable for most rookies, along with free agents.
From a staying-in-college standpoint, just looking ahead to Duke’s rosters, obviously they would benefit a lot from having arguably the best player in college basketball return, but their upcoming 2025 recruiting class is currently ranked number one, with currently having 4 5-star players committed to Duke, including Cameron Boozer, the son of longtime NBA veteran Carlos Boozer, who is currently ranked as the third-best recruit in all the country, so pairing Flagg with these young talented freshmen would more than likely make Duke the unanimous number one overall team heading into the 2025-2026 season.
Considering all the factors, it seems likely that Flagg’s immediate future could be in Chappell Hill. If this were to happen, it would mark a shift in how top prospects approach their careers, leveraging NIL opportunities to delay the transition to the professional level. Whether he chooses to stay or declare for the draft, Cooper Flagg’s decision will undoubtedly have a major impact on both Duke’s basketball program and the 2025 NBA Draft landscape.
View the latest NCAAB odds at Bovada
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