The No. 1 overall pick was already making a ton of money as a student-athlete through NIL deals.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks made it official. With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, they selected Cooper Flagg, the highly touted forward out of Duke who’s been projected as a franchise cornerstone.
Now that he’s headed to Dallas, one big question remains: How much will Flagg earn on his rookie contract?
According to Spotrac, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is projected to earn a four-year contract worth up to $62,730,226 if signed at the maximum 120% of the NBA rookie scale.
Here’s a breakdown of that contract, based on Spotrac’s projections:
- Year 1: $13,825,920
- Year 2: $14,517,480
- Year 3 (team option): $15,208,680
- Year 4 (team option): $19,178,146
That starting number is up from last year. The No. 1 pick last season, Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher, made $12.6 million in his rookie season. The over $1 million difference is because the rookie contract salaries scale with how much money the league brings in year-to-year. Since 2023, the salary cap has grown from around $136 million to roughly $155 million today.
While this is a lot of money, it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Flagg’s lucrative deals. Right now, the young star’s endorsement value is estimated to be over $28 million, according to CBS Sports.
Some major brands want Flagg to be a representative for their product, including New Balance, Fanatics, Gatorade, and many more.
Needless to say, the Flagg era in Dallas comes with a price — but is it one that’s worth it?