Stephen A. Smith Still Sulking Over Cooper Flagg’s Final Four Blunder Amid Duke Star’s NBA Draft Bombshell

Cooper Flagg is the name on everybody’s lips. The Duke starlet has been lighting it up all season, carrying Duke on his back. Touted as the top prospect in the 2025 draft, Cooper Flagg has made sensational headway all season. NBA insiders and Sports Illustrated pegged the Utah Jazz as the frontrunner to land him after the play‑in tournament.

Yesterday, Flagg confirmed in a viral Instagram video that he’s officially entering the 2025 NBA draft. The announcement sent shockwaves through March Madness chatter—quelling lottery‑pick rumors and refocusing every mock draft on one thing: Flagg. But one analyst has something else lingering on his mind.

Stephen A. Smith, after hearing the news, praised Cooper Flagg on First Take at ESPN, but then shortly began a monologue speaking of his game in the final four. He said, “The only blemish on his career is, there was four times that he had a chance to win a game and he failed. All four times, you know, but that’s just the last play, the game-winning shot. That happens.. You certainly miss more than you make. Even the greatest of them all has done that.”

Here, Stephen A. Smith is talking about the final four game against Houston, where with Duke leading by one and under 20 seconds remaining, Flagg was called for an over-the-back foul while contesting a rebound against Houston’s J’Wan Roberts. Roberts converted both free throws, giving Houston a 68-67 lead. Then, on the ensuing possession, Duke put the ball in Flagg’s hands. He created space for a mid-range jumper but missed, clanking the shot off the front rim. Houston secured the rebound and added two more free throws, sealing a 70-67 win and ending Duke’s season

Bringing to the table a 19.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG freshman season and both Wooden and Naismith honors, Flagg’s on‑court prowess is undisputed—but now the question shifts to how he’ll rebound from his Final Four falter as he enters the NBA Draft.

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