Cooper Flagg Is Cleared to Play, Boosting Duke’s NCAA Title Hopes

It’s official. Duke’s Cooper Flagg is playing Friday. 

“I feel really good,” said Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, during a press conference Thursday afternoon. “I’m really confident about going 100 percent [Friday].”

Shortly after, Duke announced that the 18-year-old freshman would be active for the top-seeded Blue Devils’ first-round matchup against 16-seed Mount St. Mary’s in the NCAA tournament, ending speculation that he might not suit up.

Flagg missed the final two games of the ACC tournament after limping off the court with an ankle injury during Duke’s quarterfinal win over Georgia Tech. Duke went on to win the championship without him, but the five-time NCAA champions will likely need Flagg on the floor to win its first title since 2015.

Duke, a No. 1 seed, is a heavy favorite to win the tournament, largely due to Flagg’s dominance this season. The 6-foot-9 forward scored 18.9 points per game on 48.5 percent shooting, while also contributing 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists and making himself a pest on defense.

Flagg Fuels Tanking, Viewership

NBA teams also see Flagg as a difference-maker, with speculation rife that teams out of contention for a playoff spot are tanking to get a better shot at drafting him. The league fined the Utah Jazz, which entered Thursday’s action with just 16 wins, for resting Lauri Markkanen earlier in March, and it’s also investigating the 76ers for sitting stars Paul George and Tyrese Maxey.

Flagg’s return is good news for NCAA tournament broadcasters CBS and WBD Sports. Duke has played in four of the 10 most-watched games during the regular season, with its March matchup against rival North Carolina ranking first with an average of three million viewers on ESPN.

The NCAA and broadcasters have been able to capitalize on star power in the past. Last year’s women’s title game, which pitted Iowa phenom Caitlin Clark against Dawn Staley’s South Carolina team, took in 18.9 million viewers, a record for the women’s championship game.