To much fanfare and no surprise, the Dallas Mavericks selected Duke standout Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists as a freshman last season, sweeping national awards as the Blue Devils made the Final Four.
After making millions in NIL money last season, he's finally in The Show, and was signed to a $62.7 million deal over four years. He will make $13.8 million in the 2025-26 season, behind fellow Dallas Mavericks Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, and P.J. Washington.
Next season, fellow top pick Victor Wembanyama will make $13.3 million, and the collective bargaining agreement in place at the time allowed for him to make $55.2 million over his first two seasons.
Both players have team options in their contracts after their second season, and both are expected to be offered massive extensions before they can hit restricted free agency.
While Wembanyama has massive endorsement deals with Nike, Louis Vuitton, and Barcode, Flagg made an estimated $28 million in college thanks to NIL deals with giants like New Balance, Gatorade, and Walmart.
All in all, Flagg and Wembanyama boast stardom yet to be seen in the age of player empowerment. When LeBron James was a prospect, avenues for him to make money before being drafted were controversial. The same could be said for Davis and Zion Williamson.
Paolo Banchero was the first NCAA player with the top selection picked in the NIL era, and his pre-draft earnings paled in comparison to Flagg, who is well on his way to being one of the wealthiest athletes the world has ever seen.