The 2024-25 NBA season hasn’t started, but with 17-year-old Cooper Flagg set to begin his college career at Duke, league insider Mark Medina suggests that teams might already be considering tanking to improve their odds of securing the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Next Big Talent?
Flagg shone in scrimmages with Team USA.
It’s never too early for an NBA mock draft, and even with over nine months until the draft, one player remains at the top of the projections: Cooper Flagg.
At just 17 years old, this guard/forward from Newport, Maine is preparing for his freshman year with the Duke Blue Devils. Despite not having played in a college game yet, he’s already being hailed as a generational talent, with comparisons to potential No. 1 picks like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson.
His stock likely rose even higher when he was chosen for the USA Select Team, the first collegiate player to do so since 2013 (following Marcus Smart and Doug McDermott). He took part in scrimmages against the stars of Team USA’s Olympic roster, including James and Davis, and fit right in.
Although the Olympic Team won by a narrow margin, Flagg nearly led the Select Team to an upset, catching the attention of future Hall-of-Famer Kevin Durant, who praised the young prospect.
With Flagg expected to be the No. 1 overall pick next year, some teams might already be considering tanking to improve their chances of securing that pick. Rebuilding teams like the Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, and Brooklyn Nets are seen as potential fits for him.
Other teams may also be contemplating their performance levels, with some, like the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Utah Jazz, sitting in a gray area—strong enough to compete but not likely playoffs contenders.
Team USA was “very impressed” by Flagg’s performance
Medina, who witnessed the scrimmage in Las Vegas, noted Flagg’s aggressive playstyle. It wasn’t just his skills that captivated Team USA; his demeanor was described as humble yet confident, earning him respect from basketball’s biggest names.
“I was very impressed. I had never seen Cooper Flagg play before until that scrimmage, and he almost led the select team into a win, if not for Anthony Davis’s game-saving block against him. He made a turnaround jump over Jrue Holiday, he made a three, he had an and-one off a put-back. He was just being very aggressive, driving to the rim.
When you talk to people from Team USA, they’re just very impressed with his assertiveness, his playmaking, his shooting, his humility. He was not trying to act like he’s the best person in the room, but he also was confident with going toe-to-toe with everyone, and that’s what NBA veteran players respect. So when you saw the images of LeBron James and Steph Curry and Kevin Durant embrace him, it was all real.”
‘YES’ – Teams Will Inevitably Tank
So, to put it simply, Medina definitely thinks teams will tank for Flagg. The only question that remains is which ones, with the journalist believing that once some teams realize they are not in competition for playoff or Play-In Tournament spots, that they will choose to shut up shop early and go all in for the 2025-26 season.
“Kevin Durant really praised him, saying ‘I wish I was able to practice and go head-to-head with him.’ He obviously wasn’t able to practice because of his calf injury, but he was really impressed with just his composure, and his ability to lace it up.
And he hasn’t even played a single game at Duke yet. So will we see teams start tanking form? I think the answer is a YES in capital letters, but we don’t know which teams they will be. I think what we’ll see is once it’s clear these teams aren’t going to be good next season, it will be all about tanking for Flagg.”
Stellar High School Career
Already boasts a FIBA World Cup title
Cooper Flagg
Although he hasn’t played in an NCAA game yet, Flagg has started to create an impressive résumé, playing a key role in leading the USA U17 team to FIBA World Cup victory in 2022.
He averaged 9.3 points, a team-high 10.0 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. In the gold medal game, Flagg achieved a double-double with 10 points and 17 rebounds, along with eight steals and four blocks, earning him MVP honors.
Cooper Flagg – 2022-23 vs. 2023-24 High School Season Stats
| Category | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|
| PPG | 9.8 | 16.1 |
| RPG | 5.2 | 7.6 |
| APG | 3.0 | 3.9 |
| FG% | 55.0 | 54.8 |
| 3P% | 38.0 | 38.0 |
Flagg’s high school journey included time at Nokomis Regional High School, where he led the team to a Class A state championship, and Montverde Academy, where he began gaining significant recognition.
During last year’s Nike EYBL, he averaged 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists over 17 games. In the 2023-24 season, the 6-foot-9 wing guided the Eagles to an impressive 33-0 record, culminating in a victory at the Chipotle Nationals. In the championship game against Paul VI High School, he scored 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting (2-of-3 from three-point range) along with eight rebounds, two assists, and six blocks in just 31 minutes of play.
As Flagg prepares for his upcoming season at Duke, he has already demonstrated immense potential. Under the guidance of Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer, he’s expected to continue improving.
Exciting times lie ahead for both the college scene and the league!
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