As Cooper Flagg prepares to make the leap to the NBA, attention isn’t only focused on his dominance on the basketball court-but also on his performance off of it. Despite spending just one season in Durham with the Duke Blue Devils, Flagg’s academic record has become a topic of conversation just hours before the 2025 NBA Draft.
While processing the immense pressure of being the projected No. 1 overall pick, Flagg remains unfazed. He’s repeatedly stated that he’s prepared for the spotlight, mentally and physically, and confident in his ability to thrive at the next level-potentially with the Dallas Mavericks, who hold the top pick in this year’s draft.
An instant-impact player: Cooper Flagg
The numbers speak for themselves. In his lone collegiate season, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game-figures that highlight just how NBA-ready he is. So much so, that after only one year in college, his name is already being penciled in as a franchise cornerstone at the professional level.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas believes Flagg has everything it takes to become a star from the moment he sets foot on an NBA court-provided he stays healthy.
Flagg has All-NBA potential, and I believe that he will reach it,… “As long as he stays healthy, he will not fail in the NBA. He is just different. Putting aside the skills and measurable traits, Flagg is one of the most competitive players I have seen at this age. Yes, a lot of prospects are competitive, but this guy is on the highest tier of competitors. At only 18, Flagg is mature beyond his years-far beyond most 22-year-old prospects in this draft.
Bilas said.
Flagg has shown not just rare talent on the court, but also an exceptional level of intelligence and discipline for someone his age-two qualities that bode well for his NBA journey.
His GPA at Duke turns heads
Amid the growing buzz surrounding Flagg, Duke University revealed his GPA from the recently concluded fall semester-and the numbers surprised even his biggest supporters.
The official account of the Duke Blue Devils basketball program shared the update, adding another layer to the legend of Cooper Flagg:
What if Cooper Flagg is: the best defensive player in college basketball and leads the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks and got a 4.0 fall GPA and turned 18 last month?
The revelation stunned fans and analysts alike, especially considering the significant time he spent on the court. His perfect 4.0 GPA suggests that excellence in academics and athletics don’t have to be mutually exclusive-they can be complementary.
While Duke has yet to release his spring semester grades, expectations are high that Flagg continued to balance his academic and athletic commitments with the same success. His remarkable combination of on-court dominance and off-court discipline only further solidifies why he’s one of the most highly anticipated NBA prospects in recent memory.
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