Cooper Flagg: $28 million in NIL deals before even being drafted by Dallas

Cooper Flagg may have earned more money in a single college season at Duke than he will make in his first NBA year. According to Howard Bryant of ESPN, the 2025 draft’s number 1 pick has earned at least $28 million through his NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) contracts during his time with the Blue Devils.

This astronomical sum mainly comes from two major deals: a $13 million contract with New Balance and another $15 million with Fanatics. These amounts greatly exceed the initial $4.8 million estimate established by On3, demonstrating the scale of the Flagg phenomenon.

Contracts that eclipse his future NBA salary

Paradoxically, these college earnings surpass what Flagg should receive as an NBA rookie. According to Spotrac projections, the 18-year-old should sign a four-year, $62.7 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks, or about $13.8 million for his first season.

The Mavericks, who won the lottery with only 1.8% odds, are getting a generational talent. LeBron James, the only player younger than Flagg to be selected first overall (18 years and 178 days versus 18 years and 186 days), praised the Duke star’s future: « I personally think he can be great. He had an amazing season at Duke. A guy who can do so many different things on the court. »

Flagg’s advantage compared to rookie James? He’s joining an established team with Hall of Famers like Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, under Jason Kidd’s leadership. « I think it will be incredible to have that type of presence, that type of leadership around him every day, » added the King.

This situation perfectly illustrates the new reality of American college basketball, where NIL contracts allow university stars to generate considerable income before even turning pro. For Duke, these « unlimited » resources according to some sources offer a major competitive advantage in recruiting future talent.