Projected first-overall 2025 NBA Draft pick Cooper Flagg has dazzled scouts with his on-court dominance at Duke, blending elite skills with impressive athletic tools. As the NBA Draft approaches, all eyes will be on how the 6’9″ forward’s functional strength translates to strength testing, particularly the bench press, which measures power and endurance.
Flagg enters the NBA Draft Combine with a physique that’s evolved during his meteoric rise. While carrying 205-215 pounds on his wiry frame with a reported 7’1″ wingspan, he’s demonstrated remarkable functional strength against collegiate competition, regularly bullying defenders in transition and finishing through contact.
Breaking Down Cooper Flagg’s Projected NBA Combine Measurements
The complete combine testing battery includes anthropometric measurements, jumping tests, and speed/agility drills. These will provide a fuller picture of what makes Flagg special. His wiry strength combines with rare explosiveness off the floor, particularly evident in his elite second and third jumps that separate him from other prospects.
While the bench press garners significant attention, Flagg’s overall combine performance will likely showcase his more impressive physical attributes. His reported 40-inch vertical leap places him in elite territory for forwards, while his exceptional mobility and lateral quickness should translate to standout performances in the lane agility drill and shuttle run.
What makes Flagg’s combine testing particularly intriguing is the contrast between his game strength and what traditional weight room metrics might reveal. The teenage phenom has routinely displaced stronger opponents with his leverage and explosiveness, showcasing a brand of power that doesn’t always correlate with bench press repetitions.
His ability to move defenders backward while maintaining control speaks to his core strength and body control rather than raw pushing power measured in the 185-pound bench test.
Despite questions about raw strength numbers, Flagg’s functional basketball strength remains his calling card. Throughout his freshman campaign at Duke, where he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, he consistently demonstrated the ability to absorb contact from bigger players without getting knocked off his spots.
2025 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Cooper Flagg & Dylan Harper Headline a Star-Studded Draft Class
With the NBA increasingly valuing versatility and functional athleticism over raw power, Flagg’s combine performance will be evaluated through this modern lens.
Even if his bench press numbers don’t top the charts, his complete athletic profile positions him as the prototype for today’s NBA forward — long, fluid, explosive, and possessing the perfect blend of strength and agility for the modern game.
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