Duke men’s basketball is set to part ways with its three standouts from the 2024-25 season in Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel to the 2025 NBA draft. While they may have fallen short of winning a national title, they are leaving behind a lasting legacy with the Blue Devils.
Ahead of the draft on Wednesday, Duke men’s basketball’s X account shared photos of the three and captioned the post:
“Gonna miss these guys”
gonna miss these guys 🥹 pic.twitter.com/qTaC8vrlg9
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) June 25, 2025
Flagg committed to Duke as one of the most hyped recruits in recent memory, as he reclassified to enter college a year early. At 6-foot-9, he had all the makings of a superstar and he didn’t disappoint in his lone season with the Blue Devils.
He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, showcasing a rare blend of scoring, playmaking and defensive tenacity, as he also averaged 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game.
Maluach, a 7-2 center from South Sudan, took a different route to Duke via the NBA Academy Africa. His freshman year revealed a towering presence in the paint, averaging 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting an efficient 71.2% from the field.
Maluach’s knack for blocking shots and rim protection shone during the NCAA Tournament, where he averaged 11.5 points and 2.0 blocks per game. Early projections had him as a late first-rounder, but his postseason surge has seen him move in the draft boards.
Knueppel, a 6-7 wing from Wisconsin, arrived at Duke with a reputation as a sharpshooter. His freshman stats included 47.9% shooting, including 40.6% from beyond the arc and 91.4% from the free-throw line, narrowly missing the coveted 50-40-90 club.
He averaged 14.4 points and 2.7 assists, proving he’s more than just a spot-up shooter with his ability to create off the dribble.
Duke’s Cooper Flagg went first in the NBA draft
Without much surprise, the Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg with the first pick during Wednesday’s draft. Flagg gets the rare opportunity of joining a team that isn’t on the rebuild.
“It’s a dream come true.”
– Cooper Flagg after being drafted No. 1 to the Mavs 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7xjpGksM3C
— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2025
If Anthony Davis stays healthy and Kyrie Irving recovers from his ACL injury to make a return to the court next season, Flagg could be in for a long postseason run in his rookie season.
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