Duke

Cooper Flagg and all Duke players to watch in the 2025 NBA draft

Stories by News & Observer journalists, with AI summarization

This collection of stories follows Duke basketball players set to make an impact in the 2025 NBA draft and explores how their college skills translate to professional potential.

Duke won plenty with Cooper Flagg but read how when he missed a critical game due to an ankle injury, it forced other Duke players like Tyrese Proctor and Kon Knueppel to step up with strong performances. Khaman Maluach played a key defensive role, as seen when he blocked a late shot in the ACC championship game. Duke’s freshman trio of Flagg, Knueppel, and Maluach all landed spots on the East Regional all-tournament team, demonstrating team depth beyond star power.

Read the stories below.

Duke’s Cooper Flagg (2) and the bench celebrate what they think is a block by Stanley Borden during the second half of Duke’s 110-67 victory over Illinois in the SentinelOne Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. By Ethan Hyman

NO. 1: BIG APPLE BLOWOUT: THREE TAKEAWAYS AS DUKE BASKETBALL HAMMERS ILLINOIS AT MSG

With seven players scoring in double figures, the No. 3 Duke Blue Devils posted yet another lopsided win, this one over Illinois of the Big Ten. | Published February 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Steve Wiseman

Duke’s Khaman Maluach (9) holds up the championship trophy after Duke’s 73-62 victory over Louisville in the finals of the 2025 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, March 15, 2025. By Ethan Hyman

NO. 2: DUKE’S SECOND-HALF SURGE PUSHES BLUE DEVILS PAST LOUISVILLE FOR 23RD ACC CHAMPIONSHIP

Playing without star freshman Cooper Flagg, Duke turned a five-point halftime deficit around in a hurry in the second half to claim another ACC Tournament title with a 73-62 win over Louisville. | Published March 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Zietlow

Duke’s Patrick Ngongba II (21) blocks the shot by North Carolina’s Jae’Lyn Withers (24) during Duke’s 74-71 victory over UNC in the semifinals of the 2025 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, March 14, 2025. By Ethan Hyman

NO. 3: DUKE’S WIN OVER UNC PROVES IT IS MORE THAN COOPER FLAGG, AS BLUE DEVILS KNEW ALL ALONG

Cooper Flagg didn’t start for the first time of the season on Friday. The result is the Blue Devils affirmed who they know they are. | Published March 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Zietlow

Duke’s Tyrese Proctor (5) celebrates after hitting a three-pointer during the second half of Duke’s 85-65 victory over Alabama in their Elite 8 game in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Saturday, March 29, 2025. By Ethan Hyman

NO. 4: DUKE BASKETBALL FINAL FOUR MATCHUP IS SET. HERE’S WHO THE BLUE DEVILS PLAY IN SAN ANTONIO

Just as they did in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Duke and Houston will play in March Madness this season. This time it’s in the Final Four national semifinals at San Antonio. | Published March 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Steve Wiseman

Duke coach Jon Scheyer celebrates with his team after their 85-65 victory over Alabama on Saturday, March 29, 2025 during the NCAA East Regional final at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. By Robert Willett

NO. 5: WITH DUKE BASKETBALL IN FINAL FOUR, COACH K OPENS UP ON BLUE DEVILS, COACH JON SCHEYER

As legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski began plotting his retirement plan, his vision for his successor, Jon Scheyer, looked a lot like what’s happening now. Here’s what Coach K had to say. | Published March 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Steve Wiseman

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.