23 Jun 2025
Cooper Flagg vs. Other Duke One-and-Dones: Where Does He Rank All-Time?
Cooper Flagg vs. Other Duke One-and-Dones: Where Does He Rank All-Time? The 2025 NBA Draft is just days away, and Cooper Flagg's name will almost certainly be called first overall, continu...
Cooper Flagg vs. Other Duke One-and-Dones: Where Does He Rank All-Time?
The 2025 NBA Draft is just days away, and Cooper Flagg's name will almost certainly be called first overall, continuing Duke's remarkable tradition of producing elite one-and-done talents. But where does the Maine native stand among the legendary Blue Devils who made the same one-year journey from Durham to the NBA?
With the NBA Draft happening June 25-26, Flagg is poised to become the sixth Duke player ever selected with the No. 1 overall pick, joining an exclusive club that includes Art Heyman (1963), Elton Brand (1999), Kyrie Irving (2011), Zion Williamson (2019), and Paolo Banchero (2022). Even Mike Krzyzewski, who coached most of these stars, recently declared Flagg "the best freshman to ever play at Duke."
That's quite a statement considering Duke's incredible track record. Since Corey Maggette became the program's first one-and-done in 1999, the Blue Devils have sent 26 players to the NBA after just one season in Durham. These aren't just any players—Duke has produced 21 first-round picks in the last nine years alone, with 28 lottery selections under Coach K, the most in NBA draft history.
The Elite Tier: No. 1 Overall Picks
Cooper Flagg (2024-25)
Stats: 19.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 BPG
Achievements: AP National Player of the Year, Wooden Award winner, ACC Player and Rookie of the Year
Team Success: 35-4 record, Final Four appearance
Flagg's case as Duke's greatest one-and-done prospect rests on his unprecedented completeness as a freshman. He became just the fourth freshman ever to win the Naismith Award, joining Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson. More impressively, he's the only Division I player in history to record 700+ points, 250+ rebounds, 150+ assists, 50+ steals, and 50+ blocks in a single season.
What separates Flagg from other Duke stars is his two-way excellence and basketball IQ. His 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio tops Grant Hill, Jayson Tatum, Williamson, Banchero, RJ Barrett, and Jabari Parker during their respective collegiate careers. At 18 years old—younger than most of his predecessors when drafted—Flagg has shown remarkable maturity and decision-making.
Zion Williamson (2018-19)
Stats: 22.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 2.1 SPG, 1.8 BPG
Team Success: 32-6 record, Elite Eight appearance
Williamson captured the nation's attention like no college player in recent memory, bringing must-see excitement to every Duke game. His combination of athleticism and power was unprecedented, and his viral highlights helped elevate college basketball's profile. However, his team's Elite Eight exit and occasional inconsistency in big moments keep him from the top spot.
Paolo Banchero (2021-22)
Stats: 17.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Team Success: 32-7 record, Final Four appearance
Banchero carried enormous pressure as the star of Coach K's farewell tour and delivered admirably. His versatility and clutch performances in March Madness were impressive, though his overall statistical impact was less dominant than Flagg's historic season.
The Star Tier: Top 3-10 Picks
Jayson Tatum (2016-17)
Stats: 16.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Draft Position: No. 3 overall
Tatum's NBA success has been extraordinary—he's a four-time All-NBA selection who led Boston to the 2024 championship. At Duke, he showed the refined offensive skills that would make him a star, though his team's second-round NCAA Tournament exit limits his college legacy.
Kyrie Irving (2010-11)
Stats: 17.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.3 APG (in just 11 games)
Draft Position: No. 1 overall
Irving's college career was derailed by injury, playing only 11 games. When healthy, he was electric, but the small sample size makes it difficult to properly evaluate his college impact compared to players with full seasons.
Jabari Parker (2013-14)
Stats: 19.1 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.2 APG
Draft Position: No. 2 overall
Parker was a consensus first-team All-American and the first Duke freshman to lead the team in both scoring and rebounding. However, the shocking first-round loss to Mercer significantly damages his legacy, as great college players are often defined by March success.
Comparing Flagg to the Field
| Player | PPG | RPG | APG | Team Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Flagg | 19.2 | 7.5 | 4.2 | 35-4 | Final Four |
| Zion Williamson | 22.6 | 8.9 | 2.1 | 32-6 | Elite Eight |
| Paolo Banchero | 17.2 | 7.8 | 3.2 | 32-7 | Final Four |
| Jabari Parker | 19.1 | 8.7 | 1.2 | 26-9 | First Round |
| Jayson Tatum | 16.8 | 7.3 | 2.1 | 28-9 | Second Round |
| RJ Barrett | 22.6 | 7.6 | 4.3 | 32-6 | Elite Eight |
What makes Flagg's case compelling isn't just his statistics—it's his complete impact. He led Duke in all five major statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks), something no freshman had accomplished since Ben Simmons in 2015-16. His defensive versatility, allowing him to guard positions 1-4 effectively, gives him an edge over more offensively-focused predecessors.
The basketball analytics also favor Flagg. His usage rate of 30.7% actually topped Tatum, Williamson, and Banchero, showing he could handle being the primary option while maintaining efficiency. His three-point shooting (39% on 135 attempts) was more reliable than most Duke one-and-dones, crucial for modern NBA success.
The Intangibles Factor
Beyond statistics, Flagg brought leadership qualities rarely seen in freshmen. He reclassified to graduate high school early, showing unusual maturity and commitment. His poise in pressure situations—including clutch performances against ranked opponents—demonstrated the mental toughness that separates good players from great ones.
Former Duke star Paolo Banchero recently named his all-time Duke starting five, including Irving, Tatum, Williamson, JJ Redick, and Jahlil Okafor—all players he watched growing up. It's telling that current NBA stars still revere these Duke legends, understanding the pressure and expectations that come with wearing the Duke jersey.
The Verdict
While Zion Williamson brought unmatched excitement and cultural impact, Cooper Flagg edges him for the title of Duke's greatest one-and-done based on his complete two-way excellence, superior team success, and historic statistical achievements. Flagg's combination of production, efficiency, leadership, and age gives him the slight edge in an incredibly competitive field.
The fact that Coach K himself called Flagg the best freshman in Duke history shouldn't be taken lightly. Krzyzewski witnessed firsthand the development of Irving, Williamson, Tatum, and others. His endorsement, combined with Flagg's unprecedented statistical season and team success, makes a compelling case.
As Flagg prepares to hear his name called first overall next week, he'll join an exclusive fraternity of Duke legends. Whether he can match their NBA success remains to be seen, but his college legacy is already secure as arguably the most complete one-and-done player in Blue Devils history.
The 2025 NBA Draft may mark the end of Flagg's time in Durham, but it's just the beginning of what could be a legendary professional career. For Duke fans, he represents both the culmination of the one-and-done era and a bridge to the program's future under Jon Scheyer.
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