The Blue Devils were well-represented in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft. Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach learned of their new big-league homes, marking just the third time in history — behind 2007 Florida and 2019 Duke — that a school has produced three top-10 lottery picks in a single draft.
Cooper Flagg: No. 1 pick, Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks scooped Flagg up with the first pick of the night. Duke’s former freshman phenom became the sixth No. 1 pick ever produced by the program, joining Paolo Banchero (2022), Zion Williamson (2019), Kyrie Irving (2011), Elton Brand (1999) and Art Heyman (1963).
The one-and-done forward made waves in his sole collegiate campaign, picking up several accolades as he led the Blue Devils to a Final Four. After debuting with 18 points and seven rebounds against Maine, Flagg never looked back. The teenager posted seven double-doubles across the season, racking up over 20 points in 16 separate games. He finished as Duke’s leader in all five major statistical categories — averaging 19.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per contest.
On Jan. 11, Flagg broke the ACC freshman single-game scoring record against Notre Dame, putting up 42 points on 11-of-14 shooting. His performance shattered Duke’s previous freshman scoring record of 35 points. It also marked the first 40-point game by a Blue Devil since JJ Redick in 2006.
The Newport, Maine, native led Duke to a 19-1 conference record, but he was notably absent from the last two games of the ACC Tournament with an ankle injury. The Blue Devils managed to win the title without him, and Flagg returned in full force for NCAA play. He was critical throughout the tournament, putting up 30 points against Arizona in the Sweet 16 and 27 against Houston in the Final Four.
Flagg earned a laundry list of accolades for his impressive season. The 12-time ACC Rookie of the Week and five-time ACC Player of the Week surprised no one with his eventual ACC Player of the Year designation. He was also named All-ACC First Team, ACC All-Defensive Team and ACC All-Rookie Team. The Monteverde Academy product then picked up consensus All-American First Team honors. The Naismith Award, John R. Wooden Award and AP Player of the Year recognition were cherries on top of an already-impressive resume.
Flagg declared for the draft on April 21, and he was largely expected to go as the No. 1 pick. He now joins former Blue Devils Dereck Lively II and Kyrie Irving — the latter of whom is still recovering from a torn ACL — as they push for the playoffs in Dallas.
Kon Knueppel: No. 4 pick, Charlotte Hornets
Kon Knueppel stayed local, heading to Charlotte with the No. 4 pick. The 6-foot-7 guard and ACC Tournament MVP will play alongside Lamelo Ball as the Hornets attempt to end their league-high playoff drought.
In Durham, Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He debuted with a hot 22 points and 57.1% clip from the field, but struggled to find the net in Duke’s first big tests against Kentucky and Kansas. The Milwaukee native made up for it with impressive passing and halfcourt defense, quickly establishing himself as a selfless player with sharp off-ball movement.
Things seemed to click Jan. 15 against Miami, when Knueppel hit six triples en route to 25 points. He continued to find his rhythm in conference play, transforming into a steady playmaker and perimeter scorer for the Blue Devils.
When his teammate Flagg went out with injury in the ACC Tournament, Knueppel picked up the slack — and then some. The Wisconsin Lutheran product turned in a career-high 28 points against Georgia Tech, knocking down 12-of-13 free throws and going for a season-high eight assists. He followed that game up with 17 points against North Carolina and 18 against Louisville to help clinch the conference title and earn ACC Tournament MVP recognition.
When March arrived, Knueppel carried his momentum forward. The freshman was a free-throw machine in Duke’s final three games of the NCAA Tournament, totaling 18-of-19 from the charity stripe. In a tight Elite Eight victory over Alabama, he put up 21 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. His 16 points against Houston helped buoy the Blue Devils in the Final Four before their eventual exit.
Knueppel’s 84 triples on the season were good for fifth all-time from a Duke freshman, and his knack for finding the net from the foul line earned him the fourth-best single-season free-throw percentage (.914) in program history. With 117-of-128 attempts swishing through, the All-ACC Second Team member fell into the record books as just the second Blue Devil to finish a season above 90%.
At Duke, Knueppel proved he could excel in a complementary role and drive the offensive engine when needed. His ability to adapt and read the floor will certainly come as a compliment to Ball, as the new backcourt duo will look to space the floor along with Brandon Miller on the wing.
Khaman Maluach: No. 10 pick, Houston Rockets (Proposed trade to the Phoenix Suns)
Houston selected Duke’s South Sudanese star with the 10th pick of the night, with the pick reportedly heading to Phoenix as part of the Kevin Durant trade. Maluach stands to bolster the Suns with his formidable rim protection and dominant paint presence.
The 7-foot-2 center showed impressive growth in his sole season with the Blue Devils, developing into the elite big man Duke needed as the year wore on. Maluach finished with five double-doubles; he averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.
The NBA Academy Africa product’s game-altering length and connection with other players translated into easy points for the Blue Devils all season. Maluach recorded 77 dunks on the year — more than the 66 combined by Duke’s opponents — to slot himself in at fourth all-time in program history. He also anchored the defense with his 7-foot-6 wingspan and posted seven games with double-digit rebounds.
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Maluach, who was voted to the All-ACC Rookie Team and ACC All-Tournament First Team, boasts an equally impressive pre-Duke resume. Despite first picking up a basketball at age 13, the Rumbek native represented South Sudan as the youngest player to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Maluach was also a five-star recruit and the third-overall prospect in his class despite possessing far less experience than most other aspiring collegiate players. Along with Flagg, he remained one of the draft’s youngest prospects.
The Suns will look to use his gravity around the rim to provide relief for Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and former Duke star Grayson Allen as they look to contend in the post-Durant era.
Abby DiSalvo profile
Abby DiSalvo
Abby DiSalvo is a Trinity junior and sports editor of The Chronicle's 121st volume.