NBA Exec: Cooper Flagg 'Could Start for Our Team Tonight and Make a Huge Impact'

The 2025 NBA draft is about 11 months away, but incoming Duke freshman Cooper Flagg appears to have already locked up the No. 1 pick.

A league executive told ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo that after Flagg's impressive showing this summer during practice with the USA Select Team, they believe he already has the makings of a future star in the NBA.

"I haven't studied this class deeply enough yet and I'm sure our boards will all change, but from what I saw at Hoop Summit and in Vegas with USA Basketball, good luck catching that guy," the exec said. "[Flagg] could start for our team tonight and make a huge impact with his toughness, feel and instincts on both ends. His shooting looks good also."

Flagg had the opportunity to share the floor with Team USA stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant as they prepared for the Paris Olympics. The 17-year-old looked like he belonged, as he earned the respect of some of the best players in the NBA.

"I was just trying to learn. I was on the court just trying to take bits and pieces from the other players and see what they did, how they did it, how they executed certain things and coverages," Flagg told B/R of his experience with the USA Select Team. "I think it was just a really great experience for me and I'm blessed that I had the opportunity to just be on the court and compete and learn at the same time."

In Givony and Woo's poll for who will be selected first overall in 2025, Flagg received 16 out of the 20 votes. It's clear that he will be a game-changer for the franchise that's lucky enough to land the No. 1 pick in next year's draft.