Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg has finally broken the silence on his future. The long-presumed No. 1 overall pick has announced that he is NBA Draft-bound. “It was an incredible year, probably the best year of my life,” Flagg said in an emotional farewell video for the Blue Devils fans. “I have so much gratitude. I feel so blessed for all the opportunities that I was given. Duke has always been a dream for me, but I’m excited to announce that I’ll be entering my name into the 2025 NBA Draft. Today’s just the beginning, but I have the brotherhood with me for life.” Flagg had some stunning moments while at Duke as he wrapped up his freshman season, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists.

This decision comes after a lot of speculation from the fans and media alike. Many believed that Cooper Flagg should extend his stay at Durham and try to win a national championship. Well, he’s put those speculations to rest with his announcement. While there could be a lot of factors that led to the Flagg making this decision, surely one of them would’ve been his rookie deal in the NBA. Now, some might argue that he was already making millions suiting up for Duke. Indeed, with the introduction of NIL, the Blue Devils forward was making a hefty amount. However, that’s nothing when you compare that to his projected paycheck from his rookie deal in the NBA. It might make you wonder, how much is it?

What is Cooper Flagg’s expected deal in the NBA?

Duke’s superstar forward, Cooper Flagg, is the consensus No. 1 pick for this season’s draft. Following a dominant freshman year at Durham, the versatile forward is now set to make the leap to the NBA. The league’s draft is scheduled for June 25th in New York, where most expect Flagg’s name to be called first. According to sources, the teams with the best odds of landing the Duke sensation are: Utah Jazz, the Washington Wizards, and the Charlotte Hornets. Now, with this information out of the way, everyone is eager to know how much Cooper Flagg makes by signing his very first deal in the NBA.

Well, it’s going to be a massive deal as per sources. Cooper Flagg is predicted to make a whopping $62.7 million over four years. Yes! The 18-year-old Maine native is going to make a fortune by just signing his rookie deal. This would make his average income around $15.6 million! It’s just absurd, to say the least. It also makes to think the insane amount of money he would’ve let go, if he decided to stay another year at Duke. While this is a huge amount of money, it’s surely worth it. That’s because of Cooper Flagg’s incredible skills; He’ll surely become one of the best, if not the best player on whichever team he ends up being come June 25th.

To how incredibly insane of a jump this is from what he was making as a college hooper, let’s take a look at his current NIL deal.

What is Cooper Flagg’s current NIL deal and net worth?

Cooper Flagg is one of the biggest names not just in college basketball, but in all of college sports. The Duke freshman has quickly become a standout player for the Blue Devils. But something that is more impressive than his on-court skills is his NIL deals. In just a short time, Flagg’s name, image, and likeness licenses have gone through the roof. In fact, he’s one of the most valuable players in the entire country. To put it into perspective, Cooper Flagg has a multi-year agreement with sportswear giants, New Balance. Moreover, he also has deals with big names such as Gatorade and Fanatics. So, how much money have these deals helped him make through his college career?

Well, according to ON3’s NIL valuation, the Blue Devils star’s deals are worth a whopping $4.8 million. Now, that’s impressive for a freshman! His deals with these big brands have helped soar his NIL valuation. This insane valuation makes the 18-year-old forward the second most valuable college athlete, only behind Texas’s QB, Arch Manning. Additionally, it helps us to understand how big of a jump he’s about to make once he gets drafted into the league. Indeed, Flagg is set to make a massive leap in terms of money, but it makes to think where he ranks in the highest-paid rookies list of all-time.

Will Cooper Flagg become the highest-paid Draftee in NBA history?

With Cooper Flagg tipped to earn a whopping $62.7 million from his four-year rookie deal, it makes you wonder if that’s enough to make him the highest-paid draftee ever or not. Currently, the highest-paid rookie drafted into the league is Atlanta Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher. The 20-year-old forward has the most valuable contract as a rookie in NBA history. The Frenchman is guaranteed to earn a massive $25.8 million in his first two seasons in Atlanta. But, if the Hawks decide to extend his deal for two more years, the 2024’s No. 1 pick will earn a whopping $57.2 million from his rookie deal over the four-year stint in Atlanta.

This would make Zaccharie Risacher the highest-paid draftee ever. Well, it might not last very long, though, as Cooper Flagg might just snatch that title from Risacher once he gets drafted into the league. So, it’s only a matter of time before Cooper Flagg becomes the highest-earning rookie in the history of the league. However, we’ll have to wait and watch for that, as Cooper Flagg still can revoke his decision until late May. Nonetheless, the NBA spotlight awaits its newest talent as everyone is eager to see where Cooper Flagg ends up come 25th June.