Cooper Flagg earned approximately $28 million in NIL deals during his lone season at Duke—more than double the $13.8 million he’s projected to make in his rookie year under a four-year, $62.7 million contract as the likely No. 1 overall pick.
Cooper Flagg is one of the biggest young basketball stars in the world—even before stepping onto an NBA court.
Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg
Position: PF, SF
Age: 18
Height: 206 cm
Weight: 93 kg
Birth place: United States of America
The projected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft, Duke’s standout forward has already become one of the highest-paid basketball players on the planet, thanks to groundbreaking NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals.
According to veteran sports journalist and author Howard Bryant, Flagg earned an astonishing $28 million during his lone season at Duke.
"He had a $13 million deal with New Balance and another $15 million with Fanatics," Bryant revealed during a conversation with Bob Costas at the 92nd Street Y in New York City.
To put that into perspective, Flagg’s NIL earnings are more than double what he’ll make in his rookie year if drafted first overall.
Credit AP - Scanpix
The No. 1 pick in this year’s draft is projected to sign a four-year, $62.7 million rookie contract, earning approximately $13.8 million in his first season—less than half of what Flagg made last year through endorsements.
The Dallas Mavericks currently hold the first pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and have already indicated their intention to select Flagg, who dazzled in his freshman year. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, leading Duke to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament.
Want to know what makes Cooper Flagg a potential generational talent? Check out our in-depth analysis of his game and why he could be the NBA’s next great superstar.
How good is Cooper Flagg really? Analyzing the generational talent
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