Cooper Flagg reportedly made $28 Million in NIL money at Duke…before playing a single NBA Game

Here’s a number that’ll make your head spin: $28 million. That’s how much Cooper Flagg reportedly earned in NIL deals during his one season at Duke.

According to reports, Cooper Flagg raked in $13 million from New Balance and another $15 million from Fanatics. That’s $28 million in the bank before he’s even played a single second in the NBA.

Flagg, of course, is widely expected to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, with the Dallas Mavericks sitting at the top of the board. On the court, he was every bit the phenom Duke hoped for — averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks while leading the Blue Devils to the Final Four.

But here’s where it gets interesting. NIL money is still a relatively new thing, and no one really knows how it’s going to impact the long-term trajectory of young stars. Cooper Flagg now has $28 million in his pocket before even stepping foot on an NBA floor. That’s generational wealth before playing a single professional game.

It raises some fascinating questions. How does that kind of money impact a player’s drive? Their hunger? Can a guy even be considered a “bust” if he’s already secured life-changing wealth before getting to the league? Who’s to say at this point.

It’s not a knock on Cooper Flagg — by all accounts, the kid is wired the right way and loves the game. But in this new era of NIL, these dynamics are going to be worth watching. We’ve never really seen this play out before at this level.

Cooper Flagg is already a marketing machine. He hasn’t even suited up in the NBA yet, and he’s already made more money than a lot of veteran players will see in their entire careers. Now we get to see if he backs it up when the real games start.