Ex-Clippers Star Doesn’t Want Cooper Flagg to Lose $45 Million THIS Year

Joseph Galizia | 13/03/2025
Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) reacts in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center

For fans whose NBA teams are in the gutter, Cooper Flagg could be their knight in shining armor. The 18-year-old prodigy has been turning heads on the Duke Blue Devils while being named a “generational talent” by Sports Illustrated. Many assume Flagg will be a top two pick of the upcoming 2025 NBA draft. The question is…will he take the plunge?

Flagg’s rookie campaign at Duke was exceptional. He averaged 19.4 PPG, was named the Gatorade Player of the Year, and the Naismith Player of the Year. A National Championship aside, Flagg already has a college basketball resume filled with accolades. Does he give that all up to potentially play for a bottom-tier NBA franchise? He does if he doesn’t want to lose millions.

Lou Williams, Michelle Beadle, and Chandler Parsons spoke about Flagg’s massive decision on the latest edition of the Run It Back program. Through NIL (Name, Image, Likeness), he’s estimated to be making $5 million a year at Duke. Parons and Williams claim that he would make nine times that in the NBA, and that he should just grit his teeth and make the plunge.

“Don’t back to school. It’s going to be the same teams next year,” joked Williams. Parsons and Beadle agreed, and suggested that Flagg enter the draft and potentially get selected #1 overall, which is where many estimate he would go. “That $5 million you’re making at Duke is cute. You’re gonna be making $40 or $50 million if you come out,” added Parsons.

Williams isn’t just aiming to be difficult. The data of franchises completely turning around in a single-season is low, so him pushing Flagg to get into the league sooner and get that bag does truly feel like a vet trying to help a young blood get paid.

The 2024 first overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher, is earning a base salary of $12,569,040 his rookie year which is the bare minimum of what Coop would command if he gets taken first overall. One of the major reasons for why fans usually push for talents like Flagg to ramp up their ascent to the NBA is to avoid any unnecessary injuries at the collegiate level, severely damaging their draft stock.

The proof is in the pudding. Flagg’s second contract (after his rookie deal) is estimated to be upwards of $400 million, due to his talent, and the new contracts that players would receive under the league’s new broadcast deal.

With no decision made yet, all eyes will be on Flagg’s decision. One way or another, his future is looking bright.

Post Edited By: Samir Mehdi
Chandler Parsons Cooper Flagg Lou Williams

About the author

Joseph Galizia

Joseph is a Las Vegas based actor and circus performer. For the last seven years he's had the pleasure of covering sports for multiple outlets, including the Lifestyles section of Sports Illustrated. In that time, he's conducted over 50 interviews with athletes, filmmakers, and company founders to further cement his footprint in the journalism world. He's excited to bring that skillset to the SportsRush, where he'll be covering the NBA news cycle.

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