Former Duke Star Cooper Flagg Shines in Season Opener

It didn't take long for former Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg to become a star in the NBA.

He played at a high level in his rookie season, winning the Rookie of the Year Award, averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from three. He narrowly beat out his teammate at Duke, Kon Knueppel, for the Rookie of the Year Award, as Knueppel also had an impressive season.

Flagg has seemingly improved more as he opened his second season with a stellar performance, as he had 32 points, five rebounds, two assists, three steals, and a block, shooting 10-for-17 from the floor, 1-for-4 from deep, and 11-for-13 from the free-throw line.

The Dallas Mavericks lost the game, but it was a great performance from Flagg, who is becoming one of the best players in the NBA. He is playing well on both ends of the court and is continuing to improve. Adding a reliable three-point shot is the next step for Flagg to become a more all-around player.

Flagg proved his talent during his one year with the Blue Devils. In that season, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game, shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from behind the arc.

He was a Consensus All-American and the AP Player of the Year, leading Duke to a 35-4 record and a National Semifinal appearance in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to the Houston Cougars.

While he was unable to win a title in his one season with the Blue Devils, he led them on their deepest run since the 2021-22 season. In the 2025-26 season without Flagg, Duke only advanced to the NCAA Tournament Regional Final, where they fell to the UConn Huskies.

With how Flagg played in the season opener of his second NBA season, he could be an All-Star for the first time in his career. The 19-year-old forward has a ton of potential, and if he continues to develop, he could be an MVP candidate in the upcoming years.

Despite producing a ton of high-level talent over the years, no former Blue Devil has ever won the NBA MVP. Flagg will look to become the first and follow up with a strong second campaign with the Mavericks.