The question has been bouncing around Durham like a loose ball in Cameron Indoor Stadium for months. Is Cooper Flagg staying at Duke? If you’re a Blue Devils fan, you probably spent a good chunk of the last season praying for a miracle. Maybe you thought the NIL money would be enough. Maybe you hoped his love for the "Brotherhood" would keep him in school for one more run at a title. But let’s be real for a second. We’re talking about a kid who was basically born to play in the NBA.
The short answer? No. Cooper Flagg is not staying at Duke.
He’s already gone. In April 2025, following a freshman season that was nothing short of historic, Flagg officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft. He didn’t just "test the waters"—he dived in headfirst, signed with an agent, and closed the door on his college career. On June 26, 2025, the Dallas Mavericks made it official by calling his name with the No. 1 overall pick.
Why the Rumors of Flagg Returning to Duke Even Existed
It’s kinda funny how sports rumors take on a life of their own. Back in February 2025, there was a brief moment of chaos. A quote surfaced where Flagg mentioned how much he loved Duke and how he "wanted to come back."
Social media went nuclear.
Wizards and Nets fans—who were actively rooting for their teams to lose just to get a shot at him—started sweating. For a week, every sports talk show debated whether a projected No. 1 pick would actually pull a "Tim Duncan" and stay in school. Duncan, famously, stayed all four years at Wake Forest despite being the top prospect.
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But things are different now.
Honestly, the risk of injury is just too high. When you’re looking at a guaranteed $11 million rookie salary plus massive shoe deals, you don't stay in school to play for free (or even for high-level NIL money). Flagg is 6-foot-9, can guard every position on the floor, and has a motor that doesn't quit. He had nothing left to prove at the college level.
The Stats That Made Him a "One-and-Done" Lock
You can’t argue with the numbers he put up in Durham. Flagg wasn't just good; he was the best player in the country as an 18-year-old.
- Scoring: 19.2 points per game.
- Rebounding: 7.5 boards per night.
- Playmaking: 4.2 assists (crazy for a guy his size).
- Defense: 1.4 blocks and nearly 2 steals.
He swept the awards. ACC Player of the Year? Check. National Freshman of the Year? Check. First-team All-American? Obviously. He even dropped 42 points on Notre Dame in January, breaking records that had stood for decades. When you’re doing that against grown men in the ACC, the NBA comes calling early.
The "What If" Scenario: Could He Have Stayed?
Technically, yeah, he had eligibility left. Because he reclassified to join the 2024 class, he was actually younger than most high school seniors during his freshman year at Duke.
Some argued that staying another year would have helped him "fill out" his frame. He’s a bit lean at 205 pounds. But the NBA has the best trainers in the world. Why stay in a dorm in North Carolina when you can be at a professional facility in Dallas?
Plus, the 2026 draft class is looking absolutely loaded with guys like AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer. If Flagg had stayed, he would have risked falling out of that No. 1 spot if one of those guys had a monster year. By coming out in 2025, he secured the bag and the top spot.
Duke’s Life After Flagg
Duke fans shouldn't be too sad, though. Jon Scheyer didn't just sit around and mope after Flagg left. The 2025-26 Duke roster is still terrifyingly good. They landed Cameron Boozer (son of Duke legend Carlos Boozer) and his brother Cayden.
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It’s basically a revolving door of five-star talent.
What Really Happened in the 2025 NBA Draft?
The Dallas Mavericks winning the lottery was the shock of the century. They weren't even supposed to be there, but the ping-pong balls bounced their way.
Most people expected the Washington Wizards or the Brooklyn Nets to land Flagg. Seeing him pair up with Luka Dončić has been... well, it’s been a lot for the rest of the league to handle. Flagg made his NBA debut on October 22, 2025, against the Spurs. He put up a double-double (10 points, 10 boards) right out of the gate.
He’s currently playing as a hybrid point-forward, bringing the ball up the court and acting as a secondary playmaker. It's basically exactly what he did at Duke, just with faster athletes around him.
Key Takeaways on Flagg’s Decision
- No Return: Cooper Flagg is officially a professional. There is no path for him to return to Duke.
- NBA Success: He is currently a starter for the Dallas Mavericks and a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.
- Duke’s Future: The Blue Devils have moved on to the "Boozer Era" with the No. 1 recruiting class in 2025.
- Draft Legacy: Flagg will go down as one of the most productive "one-and-done" players in the history of the Duke program, right up there with Zion Williamson and Kyrie Irving.
If you’re still holding out hope that you’ll see Flagg in a Duke jersey again, your best bet is to wait twenty years for a "legends" game. For now, catch him on League Pass. He’s busy trying to help Luka win a ring.
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Next Steps for Duke Fans:
Keep an eye on the 2026 NBA Draft projections. While Flagg is gone, fellow Blue Devils like Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel followed him into the pros, and the next wave of Duke freshmen are already top of the scouting boards. You can track their progress through the ACC standings as they look to return to the Final Four without their Maine-born superstar.