Coach K gives Cooper Flagg the ultimate compliment, ranks him among Duke legends

Ever since the dawn of college basketball, the Duke Blue Devils have been one of those teams everybody loves to hate. They’re a powerhouse, and they have as many fans as haters.

That has plenty to do with the revolving door of superstar prospects they’ve had in their ranks. And, being their coach for decades, Mike ‘Coach K’ Kryzyewski coached his fair share of superstars.

That’s why there’s 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

“Grant [Hill] is the best player to ever play at Duke, [Christian] Laettner is the most accomplished,” Kryzyewski said. “Cooper [Flagg] is definitely the best freshman that has ever played.”

Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils

While he didn’t lead the team to a national championship, it’s hard to disagree with Coach Kryzyewski when we take a look at Flagg’s 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.