We’re now just about a week away from the 2025 NBA Draft, where the Dallas Mavericks are widely expected to kick things off by selecting Duke’s Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick. Following them, the San Antonio Spurs hold the second pick and are projected to take dynamic Rutgers guard Dylan Harper.
The real intrigue begins with the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3, where the direction of the draft could take a number of turns. Another Duke standout, Kon Knueppel, is a potential option at that spot, though most projections place him somewhere in the 5-to-10 range. Still, with his versatile skill set and rising stock, it wouldn’t be a total shock if he sneaks into the top three.
Kon Knueppel recently joined The Bill Simmons Podcast to discuss his draft journey and share his thoughts on Duke teammate Cooper Flagg. During the conversation, Simmons asked Knueppel what he believed had helped his draft stock climb in recent months.
Knueppel pointed to his expanded role at Duke and his improved conditioning as major factors. He noted that scouts have taken notice of his versatility on both ends of the floor, particularly his ability to create offense as a secondary ball-handler while maintaining efficiency as a shooter. He also credited Duke’s high-level competition and the exposure that comes with playing alongside a generational talent like Flagg for giving teams more opportunities to evaluate him in big moments.
According to Knueppel, it wasn’t one flashy performance but rather the consistency in his play and adaptability that opened more eyes as the season progressed.
“I think a lot of it helped with the ACC Tournament when Cooper was out,” Knueppel told Bill Simmons. “So being able to see me in a scenario where I’m the guy for a couple of games. And then just kind of carrying that over into the NCAA Tournament, I think that helped. But then, I mean, I don’t really know—I haven’t played in front of anybody other than my team workouts I’ve been doing, so I guess I made a decent impression in some of my interviews.”
Knueppel’s comments reflect his humility, but also hint at the poise and maturity NBA teams value. With Flagg sidelined, he proved he could step into a leading role and perform under pressure, likely contributing to the rising buzz around his draft stock.
When Cooper Flagg went down with an ankle injury during the ACC Tournament against Georgia Tech, Kon Knueppel was thrust into the spotlight—and he rose to the occasion. With Flagg sidelined for the next two games, Knueppel stepped up as Duke’s primary option, dropping 17 points in a rivalry clash against North Carolina and following that with an 18-point effort versus Louisville.
Even before that, in the win over Georgia Tech where Flagg was injured, Knueppel poured in 28 points on 50% shooting, showcasing his scoring touch and composure under pressure. That three-game stretch proved Knueppel could shoulder the load when needed, and it went a long way in boosting his draft stock. In the eyes of NBA scouts, he didn’t just fill a gap—he thrived in a leadership role, reinforcing the idea that he has the tools to be more than just a complementary piece at the next level.
If Kon Knueppel joins Cooper Flagg in the top five of the 2025 NBA Draft, it wouldn’t be unfamiliar territory for the Duke program. A similar scenario played out in 2019, when Zion Williamson was selected first overall by the New Orleans Pelicans and his Duke teammate RJ Barrett went third overall to the New York Knicks.
That duo showcased the kind of top-tier talent Duke consistently develops, and Flagg and Knueppel could very well be the next pair to follow in their footsteps—cementing another statement year for the Blue Devils on draft night.
