Projected No. 1 NBA Pick Cooper Flagg In A Wheelchair After Injury

The timing couldn't be worse for the NBA's projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 Draft, Cooper Flagg. He landed hard in an ACC Tournament game Thursday afternoon going for a rebound and bent his ankle in a way it's not supposed to bend.

Please don’t take Cooper Flagg away from us a week before the tournament
pic.twitter.com/KemguwahEp
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 13, 2025

The Duke phenom couldn't put any weight on his left foot, and on the bench, let's hope you can't read lips:

"F*ck!"

Cooper Flagg on the Duke bench after checking out of the game with an apparent ankle injury.pic.twitter.com/nCLQ5Ktv2W
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 13, 2025

Flagg had to be helped off the court by two teammates, who took him to the locker room.

Behind the scenes, Cooper Flagg just entered the X-ray room being pushed in a wheelchair. https://t.co/PuMqsm8Cwj
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) March 13, 2025

Behind the scenes, reports Brett Siegel, he was taken to the X-ray room in a wheelchair.

Losing Flagg now for any amount of time would be terrible news and terrible timing for both Duke and the top draft prospect in the country. The NCAA Tournament—March Madness—starts next week.

Flagg has averaged 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 31 games this season, while shooting nearly 38% from three-point range.

*Update: Flagg returned to the bench walking on his own, to a standing ovation. Head coach Jon Scheyer has announced that Flagg has a sprained ankle.

Jon Scheyer on Cooper Flagg:

"He sprained his ankle. X-rays were negative, which is great. We just have to see how he recovers and how he goes from there"pic.twitter.com/zKKzQDc1oc
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 13, 2025

"He sprained his ankle. X-rays were negative, which is great. We just have to... see how he recovers and how he goes from there."