DUKE star Cooper Flagg hinted at a possible delay to his professional debut.
The top prospect is being touted as the consensus first overall pick at this year’s NBA draft.
Cooper Flagg, Duke’s star freshman guard, teased the possibility of playing another season with the university.
The decision could leave hundreds of millions of dollars on the table for the up-and-coming basketball phenom.
In a report profiling the Maine native, Flagg indicated that he may not want to end his tenure with the Blue Devils.
“S**t,” Flagg told The Athletic. “I want to come back next year.”
Flagg, known for his extraordinary two-way ability, is projected to receive an NBA contract offer in the range of $400 million.
Some pundits believe that Flagg is all but certain to suit up for the NBA Draft this summer.
However, NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals, first introduced by the NCAA in 2021, have made the idea of prolonging their college careers more enticing for student athletes.
Prior to 2021, college athletes were barred from earning money through sponsorships and other deals that would have earned them millions.
In May 2024, the NCAA agreed to retroactively pay nearly $2.8 billion in backpay to former college athletes who had been harmed by these restrictions.
Now, with Flagg earning millions in NIL contracts, continuing to develop his skills at the collegiate level might not seem so outlandish.
In some cases, NBA prospects may choose to defer their draft date in order to pursue a National Championship.
But they also have to weigh the risk of an injury or performance slump jeopardizing their position in the draft.
Flagg is already worth nearly $5 million in sponsorship deals with New Balance, Gatorade, and Fanatics – more than double those of the second-highest paid college basketball player, Marquette University’s Kam Jones.
But a potential $400 million contract will be difficult to ignore.
If Flagg were to enter the draft and sign a rookie deal this year, he would be eligible for a contract extension in the 2029-30 season.
Adjusted for a 10% cap increase, that extension could be worth up to $398.5 million at almost $80 million per season.
Though there’s no guarantee that Flagg will earn a maximum contract after his rookie deal, most top draft picks in recent years have.