Jay Williams reveals whether Cooper Flagg could return to Duke in 2025-26 season, avenge Final Four loss

NIL is certainly a wild thing but probably not wild enough to get Cooper Flagg back to Duke for one more season. ESPN’s Jay Williams was asked about the chances that Flagg would run it back in 2025-26 to avenge the Final Four loss.

It’s not happening. It would certainly be a tough sell even if Duke broke the bank. Flagg is the projected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Not to mention the amount of money Flagg can cash in on multiple max deals, especially if he stuck around with the same team throughout his career. Williams would love to see Flagg in a Duke uniform again, but get ready to watch some NBA next year.

“As much as I wish that was the case, I just can’t see it,” Williams said on The Pat McAfee Show. “I mean, first off, any team that’s going to be up in the lottery is going to suck. That’s why they’re in the lottery. And ever since they put in the salary cap, it’s hard me to tell anybody not to come out, because just economically, right? How soon can you get to your next contract? Do Think for Cooper Flagg. Think about how many max contracts he can get, right? 

“So if you’re getting to your next contract three years, fourth year team option, he’s gonna be 22 and if you sign another four year contract, you’re gonna be 26, you sign another max contract, you’ll be 30. You’ll be in your prime. You can sign four max contracts.” 

Flagg might as well be in the NBA already. ESPN’s First Take already debated Flagg’s legacy and if he has the clutch gene. He hasn’t suited up for an NBA franchise yet.

“So, like, I’m trying to start that process as soon as possible,” Williams said. “And you know, if that means I’m in Utah, that means I’m in Washington, we’ve all seen this before with Eli Manning and like, you could try to force different things. That’s why you have an agent … I don’t see anybody coming back.”

Despite missing the potentially game-winning shot in the Final Four, Flagg was still spectacular in the loss. He finished the game with a game-high 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks while shooting 8-19 from the field and 3-4 from downtown. Flagg’s freshman season is already considered one of the best ever for a first-year player and he is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft.