It was a night to remember for Duke basketball. The Blue Devils saw three of their own — Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach — selected in the top 10 of the 2025 NBA Draft, placing Duke in rarefied air. Only two programs in history — 2007 Florida and 2019 Duke — had previously achieved that feat.
This year’s trio not only reinforced Duke’s reputation as a talent powerhouse but also stamped their names among the most promising young stars heading into the next NBA era.
No. 1 Pick: Cooper Flagg — Dallas Mavericks
With the first overall pick, the Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg, making the Duke freshman phenom the sixth No. 1 pick in program history. He joins a legendary list that includes Paolo Banchero, Zion Williamson, Kyrie Irving, Elton Brand, and Art Heyman.
From the moment he stepped on the court in Durham, Flagg lived up to the hype. In his one and only collegiate season, he led Duke in points (19.2), rebounds (7.2), assists (4.2), steals (1.4) and blocks (1.4) — a clean sweep of the stat sheet. He posted seven double-doubles, scored 20+ points in 16 games, and opened the season with 18 points and seven rebounds against Maine.
His signature moment came on Jan. 11, when he torched Notre Dame for 42 points on an electric 11-of-14 shooting night — breaking the ACC freshman single-game scoring record and Duke’s own freshman scoring mark.
Despite missing the ACC Tournament due to an ankle injury, Flagg returned to anchor the Blue Devils in the NCAA Tournament, scoring 30 points vs. Arizona in the Sweet 16 and 27 against Houston in the Final Four. His efforts were instrumental in Duke’s 19-1 ACC run and deep postseason push.
The accolades stacked up fast: ACC Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year, First Team All-ACC, All-Defensive Team, ACC All-Rookie, 12-time ACC Rookie of the Week, 5-time Player of the Week, and a consensus First-Team All-American. He capped it off by sweeping the Naismith, John R. Wooden, and AP Player of the Year honors.
No. 4 Pick: Kon Knueppel — Charlotte Hornets
With the No. 4 overall pick, Kon Knueppel found a new home just a few hours down the road — drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, where he’ll team up with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller to try and end the NBA’s longest active playoff drought.
A sharp-shooting 6-foot-7 guard, Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in his freshman campaign. While his early season included growing pains — particularly against elite teams like Kentucky and Kansas — Knueppel’s IQ, off-ball movement, and defensive positioning quickly stood out.
He turned a corner in mid-January, erupting for 25 points and six threes against Miami. From there, he evolved into one of Duke’s most reliable scorers and playmakers.
When Flagg went down in the ACC Tournament, Knueppel stepped up in a big way. He posted a career-high 28 points against Georgia Tech, followed by 17 and 18-point outings in the semis and finals, respectively, to lead Duke to the title and earn ACC Tournament MVP honors.
In March Madness, Knueppel became a clutch performer. He hit 18-of-19 free throws in Duke’s final three games and delivered a stat-stuffing 21-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist, 3-steal effort against Alabama in the Elite Eight.
He drained 84 three-pointers — fifth-most ever by a Duke freshman — and his 91.4% free-throw shooting ranks fourth all-time in program history. The All-ACC Second Team honoree will bring elite spacing, smart decision-making, and complementary versatility to a Hornets team in need of both polish and poise.
No. 10 Pick: Khaman Maluach — Houston Rockets (Traded to Phoenix Suns)
With the 10th overall pick, the Houston Rockets selected Khaman Maluach, the 7-foot-2 center from South Sudan — but his NBA journey will begin in the desert. The pick is reportedly headed to the Phoenix Suns as part of a Kevin Durant trade package, ushering Maluach into a post-Durant era where rim protection is premium.
Maluach’s growth at Duke was nothing short of remarkable. In just one year, he evolved into a dominant paint presence, averaging 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. He recorded five double-doubles and finished the season with 77 dunks, the fourth-most in Duke history and more than the entire opposition combined (66).
Armed with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, Maluach anchored the defense and delivered seven double-digit rebounding games, earning spots on both the ACC All-Rookie Team and the ACC All-Tournament First Team.
His story is already the stuff of legend: he didn’t pick up a basketball until age 13. By 17, he was playing in the 2024 Paris Olympics — the youngest player on South Sudan’s national team — and by 18, a top-3 recruit and a top-10 NBA Draft pick.
With Phoenix, Maluach brings size, shot-blocking, and vertical gravity to a roster featuring Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and former Blue Devil Grayson Allen. He’ll give the Suns a lob threat and a rim deterrent as they look to retool for another run in the West.
A Draft to Remember
Three top-10 picks. One historic night.
For Duke, the 2025 NBA Draft wasn’t just a celebration of talent — it was a testament to player development, coaching, and a program that continues to shape the future of basketball.
Flagg, Knueppel, and Maluach now turn the page to the pros — but their legacy in Durham is already etched in Blue Devil lore.
