Cooper Flagg is making history at Dukeāand Coach K just made it official. In a moment that instantly stirred up the Blue Devil faithful, legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski didnāt hesitate to rank the rising star alongside program icons. Speaking candidly in a recent interview, Coach K declared Flagg not just a standout, but the greatest freshman to ever wear Duke blue. Coming from the man who mentored generations of elite players, thatās not just high praiseāitās legacy-defining.
Coach K gives Cooper Flagg the ultimate compliment, ranks him among Duke legends
Duke legendary coach Mike ‘Coach K’ Kryzyewski share his honest thoughts on Cooper Flagg’s ranking in the program’s all-time list.
Ever since the dawn of college basketball, the Duke Blue Devils have been one of those teams everybody loves to hate. Theyāre a powerhouse, and they have as many fans as haters
That has plenty to do with the revolving door of superstar prospects theyāve had in their ranks. And, being their coach for decades, Mike āCoach Kā Kryzyewski coached his fair share of superstars.
Thatās why thereās no one better to rank Duke players than him. And in a recent interview, he finally put the debate between Grant Hill, Christian Laettner, and Cooper Flagg to rest.
Coach K says Cooper Flagg is the greatest Duke freshman of all time
āGrant [Hill] is the best player to ever play at Duke, [Christian] Laettner is the most accomplished,ā Kryzyewski said. āCooper [Flagg] is definitely the best freshman that has ever played.ā
While he didnāt lead the team to a national championship, itās hard to disagree with Coach Kryzyewski when we take a look at Flaggās remarkable numbers as a freshman
Flagg led the team in all major categories, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game, cementing himself as the consensus first-overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
