Duke freshman guard/forward Cooper Flagg has been named the Lute Olson National Player of the Week and the ACC Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week, the organizations announced on Monday, Dec. 9. In Duke’s two wins, over No. 2 Auburn and at Louisville, Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocked shots per contest for the Blue Devils.
Flagg recorded two 20-point double-doubles without committing a turnover during Duke’s 2-0 week and helped lead double-digit comebacks in both contests.
In an 84-78 win over the second-ranked Auburn Tigers, Flagg posted a game-high 22 points with team-highs of 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocked shots without a turnover.
On the road against Louisville, the 6-9 freshman achieved his fourth double-double of the season with team-highs of 20 points and 12 boards, to go along with two steals, an assist and a rejection, again with no turnovers. The Blue Devils trailed by 14 points in the first half, but outscored the Cardinals 43-28 after intermission. Flagg contributed 13 points and nine rebounds in the second half to spark the comeback in a 76-65 triumph.
Over the last 11 seasons (since the start of 2013-14), Duke has had an ACC Rookie of the Week in 89 of a possible 191 weeks (46.6%). Twenty-six different Blue Devils have won the award at least once in that time.
Flagg is the first Blue Devil to earn Lute Olson National Player of the Week honors since Kyle Filipowski did so on Jan. 15, 2024 and Flagg has now been named Rookie of the Week by the conference three times through the first five possible weeks.
No. 4 Duke returns to action on Tuesday, Dec. 10, taking on Incarnate Word inside Cameron Indoor Stadium at 7 p.m. The game, broadcast live on ACC Network, marks the first meeting between the two schools.
