Former NBA star who went first overall says Cooper Flagg should return to Duke

If Cooper Flagg declares for the NBA Draft, helium would instantly go the favourite to beryllium the archetypal wide pick.

However, Flagg has said helium wants to return, and a past apical enactment wants him to bash conscionable that.

Larry Johnson, the archetypal wide prime of the 1991 NBA Draft, said Flagg should enactment "one much year" astatine Duke.

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Duke Blue Devils guardant Cooper Flagg cuts the nett aft winning the 2025 ACC title crippled against the Louisville Cardinals astatine Spectrum Center. (Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)

"It's pugnacious to crook down that wealth erstwhile you cognize you're going to beryllium No. 1, but he's astatine a large program, Duke," Johnson told TMZ Sports. 

"To spell backmost to Duke and walk 1 much year, conscionable get them skills unneurotic a small spot more. I deliberation that would beryllium a beauteous bully idea. But, again, knowing you're gonna beryllium No. 1 coming retired arsenic a freshman, that'd beryllium hard to crook down."

Johnson besides dismissed the thought Flagg would beryllium risking an wounded if helium stayed astatine college, which could impact his draught stock.

"You tin get wounded doing anything," helium said.

Johnson had an accidental to spell retired connected a precocious note. He was connected his mode to the NBA aft winning the nationalist title with UNLV successful 1990, but helium returned for 1 much year.

Duke Blue Devils guardant Cooper Flagg reacts successful the 2nd fractional astatine Dean E. Smith Center.  (Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)

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Returning for his elder twelvemonth didn't change his way much. He inactive went archetypal wide to the Charlotte Hornets the adjacent season.

Despite his Rebels losing successful the Final Four successful his last play with the team, Johhson had nary regrets. 

"Heck no," helium said.

In February, Flagg said helium "want[ed] to travel back" to Duke.

"I privation to travel backmost adjacent year," the freshman said. "I inactive consciousness similar a kid. This is the lone mode I’ve ever known college. That’s however I spot it. I truly wouldn’t cognize however kids felt before, and if this feels different, if this feels much similar being a professional. I mean, it’s the aforesaid happening for kids successful precocious school, too, getting paid a batch of money. I don’t know. I consciousness beauteous normal."

Duke's Cooper Flagg (2) high-fives caput manager Jon Scheyer during the 2nd fractional against North Carolina State successful Durham, N.C., Jan. 27, 2025.  (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

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Flagg and the Blue Devils volition instrumentality connected Houston successful Saturday's Final Four astatine 8:49 p.m. ET successful San Antonio.

Flagg, who returned from an ankle wounded helium sustained successful the ACC tournament, is averaging 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists successful the tournament, numbers akin to what helium posted during the regular season.

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