Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg compiling rare statistical achievement for the ages

Steve Wiseman, The News & Observer (Raleigh) on Jan 22, 2025

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DURHAM, N.C. — As No. 2 Duke basketball keeps piling up wins, Cooper Flagg is compiling a statistical achievement rarely seen for a freshman.

The 6-9 Flagg leads the Blue Devils in scoring (19.2), rebounding (8.1), assists (4.1), steals (1.6) and blocked shots (1.2) per game.

According to ESPN Research, provided to Duke athletics, no ACC player has accomplished the feat in the past 25 years.

Nationally, the only freshman to lead his team in all five categories during that time span was Ben Simmons during the 2015-16 season when he played at LSU.

According to Stathead, since steals and blocks became official NCAA statistics in 1985-86, 50 players have led their teams in all five categories. Notable among those are Lehigh’s CJ McCollum, in 2011-12 during the season that saw his team upset Duke in the NCAA Tournament, and Dwyane Wade in 2002-03 when he led Marquette to the Final Four.

It happens nationally, for players of all classes, with some regularity. Even this season, Alabama-Birmingham senior Yaxel Lendeborg currently leads his team in those statistics.

The fact that Flagg is doing it as a freshman makes it stand out, though.

“He’s doing things nobody really has ever done before,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said.

Since 1977-78, the only Duke players who have led the team in four of the five categories are Christian Laettner (1991-92, points, rebounds, steals, blocks) and Kyle Filipowski (2023-24, points, rebounds, steals, blocks).

The assist statistic is the one that stands out for Flagg, who has produced two or more assists in all but one Duke game this season. Even when he scored an ACC freshman record 42 points against Notre Dame in Duke’s 86-78 win on Jan. 12, Flagg dished out a season-best seven assists.

Flagg has produced three or more assists in six consecutive games for the Blue Devils (16-2, 8-0 ACC), who play their next game Saturday at Wake Forest.

“It’s pretty incredible,” Scheyer said, “but I just think it’s him. I think his unselfishness and feel for the game has spread and become contagious with our entire team, where our guys are not consumed with a statistic or a number. They’re consumed with what’s the right basketball play and how do we win. I think Coop has had a lot to do with that.”

Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has been in attendance at several Blue Devils games this season, offered special praise for Flagg’s performance against Notre Dame, when he scored 42 points on just 14 field-goal attempts. He made 16 of 17 free throws that day.

“It was an incredible performance, and he only took 14 shots,” Krzyzewski said on his SiriusXM radio show, “Basketball and Beyond.” “What stood out to me in that game was when coach Scheyer, Jon, let him operate. He spent a lot of time in the low post, which is more of an old-school NBA approach. I’m gonna take you down there, and you’re either going to foul me, or I’m going to score and you’re going to foul me. I think that’s a big plus for our team.”

Krzyzewski also praised Flagg’s all-around game and his impact on the team as a whole.

“When you take your best player and let him move to different spots, it elevates everyone else,” Krzyzewski said. “He’s such a great teammate. You can see it on the bench — he’s got joy for his teammates. He’s joyful with his group, but not with the opponent. He’s a hell of a competitor, and he’s the best player in the country.”