Cooper Flagg officially declares for NBA Draft

It’s officially Cooper Flagg season.

The Duke freshman phenom is heading to the 2025 NBA Draft after a ridiculous one-and-done season where he led the Blue Devils to the Final Four, won every player of the year award you can name, and basically looked like the second coming of Larry Bird if Larry Bird had an elite handle and weakside shot-blocking instincts like Bam Adebayo.

Flagg made the announcement on Instagram Monday morning, and that sound you heard was every GM from Utah to Washington frantically triple-checking their draft lottery odds. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across 37 games, somehow living up to the absurd hype that followed him from Maine all the way to Cameron Indoor.

Cooper Flagg declares for the 2025 NBA Draft

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This wasn’t just a strong season. It was a “This guy might change your franchise overnight” season. Cooper Flagg 27-point performance in the Final Four loss to Houston was a masterpiece — the kind of game where even in defeat, he was clearly the best player on the floor. And now he’s expected to be the No. 1 pick in the draft. Go figure.

Who’s Getting Him?

That’s the $100 million question — or more like the $200 million one once Flagg hits his second contract. The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery goes down on Monday, May 12, and three teams are deadlocked at 14% odds for the top pick:

• Utah Jazz (17-65)
• Washington Wizards (18-64)
• Charlotte Hornets (19-63)

The Philadelphia 76ers, who very much joined the tank party late, still have a 10.5% shot at landing Flagg — which means yes, they are absolutely in the mix for the Maine Wonder.

The Sixers chances at Cooper Flagg and the path to truly completing The Process

Here’s the Full Lottery Breakdown:

• Utah (17-65): 14.0%
• Washington (18-64): 14.0%
• Charlotte (19-63): 14.0%
• New Orleans (21-61): 12.5%
• Philadelphia (24-58): 10.5%
• Brooklyn (26-56): 9.0%
• Toronto (30-52): 7.5%
• San Antonio (34-46): 6.0%
• Houston via PHX/BRK (36-46): 3.8%
• Portland (36-46): 3.7%
• Dallas (39-43): 1.8%
• Chicago (39-43): 1.7%
• Sacramento (40-42): 0.8%
• Atlanta (40-42): 0.7%

The draft itself is set for June 25-26 in New York City, and no matter who gets the first pick, the decision is already made. They’re taking Cooper Flagg. If they don’t, they’ll be mocked into exile.

The Verdict

Cooper Flagg is going pro. You already knew he would. But now it’s real, and now it’s on. The race for the No. 1 pick is a sprint to the lottery balls. Flagg isn’t just the best prospect in the draft — he’s a foundational piece who demands franchise realignment.

Join The Chase