Duke men’s basketball star Cooper Flagg is the presumed No. 1 pick for the 2025 NBA draft. The freshman has been phenomenal for the Blue Devils, averaging 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 49.1% shooting per game this season.
Cooper Flagg vs. Zion Williamson: Comparing Duke’s Freshman Phenoms
Flagg is also a top contender for the National Player of the Year after leading Duke to 24-3 and second place in the AP Top 25 men’s basketball ranking, behind Auburn.
While Cooper is arguably the most talked-about freshman in men’s basketball this season, former Duke player Zion Williamson entered the conversation after a sports media outlet asked fans to compare both players’ freshman seasons in an Instagram post on Thursday.
“Going into March, which Duke freshman has had the more IMPRESSIVE freshman campaign?!? 🤨🤨,” the post was captioned.
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College hoop fans stormed the comment section to share their thoughts. While some acknowledged Flagg’s outstanding performance for the Blue Devils, they insisted he was nowhere near Williamson’s historic freshman season in 2018-2019.
“Zion and it’s not close,” a fan wrote.
“Stop it now. Zion was Hollywood,” another fan wrote.
“I love Flagg but come on zions team was like 38-1 or some sh*t 🤣🤣🤣,” a fan commented.
Williamson continued to win the debate on the Duke player who had the most impressive freshman season. Here are more comments:
“Zion easily ! Not even a comparison,” a fan commented.
“Zion easy bruh what,” another fan commented.
“Coop is more skilled, Zion was a man amongst boys lol,” a fan wrote.
Zion Williamson joined Duke in 2018, and in his freshman season, he averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game. During this period, he was named ACC Player of the Year, ACC Athlete of the Year, and ACC Rookie of the Year. Williamson also set Duke’s record for freshmen in January 2019 after claiming ACC Rookie of the Week five times.
Legendary College Hoops Coach Hypes Cooper Flagg
Legendary college basketball coach Jim Boeheim recently appeared on OutKick’s “Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich.” The 80-year-old was asked how good Flagg is compared to some of the NBA’s great players.
“I think he is almost – to me, he’s [Larry] Bird-like, a little bit,” he said. “Except he is quicker, faster, more athletic, doesn’t shoot it as well, but his shot’s coming.”
KEEP READING: Ranking Cooper Flagg’s Best Games at Duke
Boeheim also said Flagg was the best player in college basketball.
“Cooper Flagg, he’s the best all-around player in terms of doing all the things in college basketball that I’ve seen,” he said. “I mean there’s better shooters, better rebounders, better passers, but he’s a defender.”
Who’s Next After Cooper Flagg?
The Blue Devils have surely pumped out the talent in their illustrious history, dating back nearly as far as the origins of the NBA Draft. As such, most Dukes fans needn’t look further than their next recruiting class for the next potential star in college basketball.
For the Class of 2025, that is once again the case, this time with twin brother commits, Cameron and Cayden Boozer. The sons of NBA star Carlos Boozer, the fraternal twins are largely seen as pivotal pieces of Duke’s next year’s roster. Cameron, however, is the third-rated prospect overall.
Flagg himself even noted the potential impact Cameron could have on the program.
“He’s an incredible player,” Flagg said. “He does all the right things.”
The Boozer twins will be on Duke campus next fall and ready for the 2025-26 season, but whether or not they play with Flagg is a big question.
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