24–25 Duke: A Final Four Exit, a Historic NBA Entrance

The Blue Devils couldn’t finish in March, but their roster proved unforgettable in June.

Image Credit: Duke Wire — USA Today

Duke didn’t cut down the nets, but the NBA noticed anyway. After falling to Houston in the Final Four, the Blue Devils sent all five starters to the 2025 NBA Draft — a rare achievement even for a program with Duke’s pedigree. Led by top-10 picks Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach, the roster instantly became one of the most professionally loaded groups in modern college basketball.

[embed]

Final Four Collapse

The 2024–25 Duke Blue Devils looked like a championship team for most of the season, powered by star freshmen Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. Their run ended in San Antonio, where Duke lost 70–67 to Houston after leading by as many as 14. The Blue Devils controlled the pace for most of the night but faltered late, unable to withstand Houston’s defensive pressure in the closing minutes.

All Five Starters Drafted

Months later, Duke made modern NCAA history. All five starters — Flagg, Knueppel, Khaman Maluach, Sion James, and Tyrese Proctor — were selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, with Flagg going No. 1 overall and both Knueppel and Maluach landing in the top 10. Duke became one of the few programs ever to send its entire starting lineup to the league in the same year.

Where This Team Ranks

Only Kentucky’s 2012 and 2015 teams produced more NBA picks in a single draft (six). Duke’s five-player class still ranks among the largest in NCAA history and stands out because all five were starters, underscoring the top-to-bottom talent on the roster.

A Split Legacy

Duke didn’t win the national title, but the 2024–25 squad secured its place as one of the most professionally loaded teams of the era. The Final Four loss will define the season, but the draft class will define the roster — five NBA players, one year, and a reminder of just how stacked this Duke team truly was.