Duke star Cooper Flagg projected to be on $930 million path if taken No. 1 by Mavericks

Duke superstar Cooper Flagg is astir to beryllium connected his measurement to becoming nan NBA’s adjacent awesome franchise player. The 6-9 guardant has agelong been projected arsenic nan No. 1 wide prime successful nan 2025 NBA Draft, and pinch nan Dallas Mavericks expected to telephone his name, expectations are sky-high.

What’s arsenic massive? His projected earnings. According to Spotrac, Flagg could beryllium connected way to go 1 of nan first athletes successful history to adjacent a billion-dollar profession successful contracts alone. The financial breakdown is staggering: a rookie woody worthy $62.7 cardinal from 2025 to 2028, followed by a imaginable 30% supermax hold of $359 cardinal done 2033. If he reaches elite position by property 29, Flagg would past beryllium eligible for a 35% supermax hold that could bring successful different $509 cardinal done 2038—bringing his projected profession full to $930 cardinal astatine 31-years-old.

That type of earning powerfulness is usually reserved for generational icons—and Flagg is already being talked astir arsenic conscionable that.

“Dallas has been fortunate for galore years,” said Duke caput coach Jon Scheyer. “They've been capable to watch Dirk, Luka — truthful galore winning teams. Now, you've sewage a feline successful Cooper, who I deliberation will transportation that contented forward.”

The Mavericks are already treating him for illustration 1 of their own. NBA insider Marc Stein reported Flagg dined pinch Dallas officials precocious and followed that up pinch a meal pinch squad veterans for illustration Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving on. Dallas moreover accidentally posted a schematic welcoming him to nan squad connected their website earlier nan draught officially began, arsenic Yahoo Sports’ Jeremy Beren noted.

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With a versatile accomplishment group and relentless motor, Flagg is astir to measurement into a high-pressure business alongside early Hall of Famers — and perchance arsenic nan semipermanent look of nan franchise erstwhile their era ends. The opportunity is massive, but truthful is nan belief astir nan convention successful his expertise to prehend it.

If nan projections beryllium existent and Flagg delivers connected nan floor, he won’t conscionable beryllium remembered arsenic a No. 1 prime — he’ll beryllium remembered arsenic nan jock who redefined nan business of basketball. For Dallas and nan NBA, nan Cooper Flagg era is astir to begin.