Saturday morning, Duke freshman Cooper Flagg sent a message to NBA teams and draft fans. His 42 points were the most ever by an ACC freshman and were a stark reminder of the talent flowing into the league every June.
Cooper Flagg was fantastic today: 42 Points 6 Rebounds 7 Assists 11-14 FG 4-5 from 3 First 40+ point game by Duke player since JJ Redick (2006) Just turned 18 years old… special pic.twitter.com/0nqwBrXxMb
— Arman Jovic (@PDTScouting) January 11, 2025
The Utah Jazz currently sit at 9-28, a record that would give them the fifth-best odds at obtaining Flagg with the first overall pick. It’s one of the reasons the Jazz were content to usher in a youth movement this season.
Flagg’s game today was a stark reminder of what this season is truly about for the Jazz and other struggling NBA teams. It’s about putting themselves in a position to draft a franchise-changing talent. And even if you whiff on lottery night, building around young, high-level prospects is a blueprint that can put you in a position for extended success…