Cooper Flagg Earns Elite Spot in NBA Draft Ranking

Cooper Flagg lands at No. 2 overall in a recent NBA Draft ranking, trailing only Victor Wembanyama.

What happened?

The ranking evaluated the top 25 NBA Draft prospects of the past decade, factoring in production, physical tools, age, upside, and overall expectations as prospects. Cooper Flagg's senior year at Montverde cemented himself as the best American prospect since Anthony Davis.

Why it matters for Cooper Flagg

Jonathan Wasserman writes that Flagg's game evolved from elite glue guy to a No. 1 option with budding shot-creation and playmaking skill. At Duke, Flagg won National Player of the Year, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 boards, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 38.5 percent from three in the 2024-2025 season.

What comes next?

The Mavericks landed Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, with just a 1.8 percent chance to secure the pick. Few prospects in recent memory have checked as many boxes as Flagg, with elite defensive instincts and impressive playmaking ability. The only player ranked ahead of Flagg was Wembanyama, with an unprecedented combination of size, skill, and defensive potential. Cooper Flagg's place in NBA Draft history is already secure, and he has yet to play his second NBA season. The Mavericks didn’t just draft a talented young player, they landed one of the most highly regarded prospects basketball has seen in the modern era.