Sports Illustrated’s 2025 “Power List” of the 50 Most Influential Figures in Sports included Cooper Flagg among its select ranks — putting a spotlight on just how deeply his arrival has already rippled across the sports world. Though SI doesn’t assign a strict ordinal ranking (like “#23 overall”) within that top 50, its write‑up places Flagg among the Athletes category, and the way the magazine frames his inclusion reveals exactly how and why he is considered one of the most powerful new forces in sport. (SI)
From the moment Flagg was selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, expectations soared: not just in terms of his immediate impact on the court, but also in how his brand potential, media presence, and trajectory would shape conversations in basketball and beyond. (SI) SI’s decision to include him among the 50 isn’t merely rhetorical — it’s a recognition that Flagg’s influence is beginning before he has even settled fully into his professional role.
In its summary for Flagg, SI describes him as “the NBA’s 2025 No. 1 draft pick” with both the “game and the calm demeanor to make it work,” and places further weight on the fact that he is “positioned to become the face of New Balance’s basketball line.” (SI) That last clause underscores a major axis of influence: commercial and brand value. It suggests SI sees Flagg not only as a player but as a rising cultural symbol, someone whose endorsement value, social media reach, and off‑court narratives could reshape how sports business intersects with youth culture, fashion, and media.
To understand why SI elevated him so early, it helps to look at how Flagg has already distinguished himself. During his single college season at Duke, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game — standout numbers for any freshman, especially when also contributing defensively with steals and blocks. (ESPN) Beyond raw numbers, he led Duke in all of the major statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks) — a feat few players ever manage. (ESPN) His impact was immediate, strong enough to carry Duke deep into the NCAA Tournament and make him a household name among hoops fans and scouts alike.
He also made waves in awards circles. Flagg won national honors, including being named national player of the year and making consensus All-American lists — extraordinary for a freshman — and became one of the youngest ever to earn such accolades. That mix of performance and acclaim gave SI tangible metrics to justify naming him among the 50 most influential.
His influence, however, is more than collegiate stat lines and awards — it’s about the narrative arc people are already writing around him. The leap from amateur to the apex of global basketball is always steep, but when someone does it at 18 or 19 years old (as Flagg did), commentators, brands, and media all begin to envision a lifetime of impact. SI’s framing of Flagg implies belief that he is a foundational figure — as SI puts it, someone whose influence might extend far beyond wins and losses.
In the context of the list itself, SI divides its 50 into categories: Athletes, Influencers, Executives & Dealmakers, Icons & Leaders. Flagg being included among Athletes signals that SI anticipates his playing presence (not just his brand) will be central to how he wields influence. (SI) Meanwhile, the inclusion of talk about his brand potential hints that his influence could extend into categories more often reserved for marketing icons and executive voices.
But what does it mean in practice that Flagg is on this list, at this moment? First, it’s a kind of imprimatur. To be seen — by a major sports institution — as influential before your professional career even begins is rare. That gives him early leverage: in negotiations, in brand deals, in how he’s presented in media. It signals to the wider sports ecosystem that Flagg is not just “another top prospect,” but a potential generational force worthy of attention.
Second, it places expectations. When you are named in a list of 50 people shaping sports globally, every move you make will be parsed for its broader significance. How he performs, how he handles injury or adversity, how he engages with social media or endorsements — all will be seen through the lens of whether he’s living up to that early promise. The inclusion thus is both a gift and a burden.
Third, it matters for comparison. Because SI is widely read and influential itself, being part of its Power List means Flagg is being associated with legends, executives, and powerbrokers at once. It gives a framework for comparing him to figures whose influence is already established — so in future years, his rise (or stumbles) will be contrasted with those already on that list. It helps cement his place in the narrative arc of basketball history.
If we were to ask “where exactly is Flagg ranked?” in the sense of what position he holds among the 50 — SI intentionally doesn’t give strict numeric ranks. Instead, it clusters names by category and opts for descriptive blurbs. The language around him places him among the earlier listed athletes, which in effect suggests he’s among the more prominent or surprising inclusions in that category. His presence in the Athlete section is itself a statement: he is already seen as someone with enough sway to stand alongside more established players. In short, we can’t say “Flagg is #17,” but we can infer he’s in the upper echelon of that category.
To illustrate how high that echelon is, consider the other names in SI’s Athletes section for 2025: Jayden Daniels, Lamine Yamal, Mohamed Salah, Shohei Ohtani, Archie Manning, etc. (SI) These are globally known icons. By placing Flagg among them, SI is saying he is not merely a rising star in the NBA, but a figure whose profile and reach could one day be cross‑sport or cross‑cultural.
In addition, by highlighting his potential as “the face of New Balance’s basketball line,” SI hints at how his influence might stretch beyond the court — into fashion, merchandise, youth culture, and the branding of basketball itself. That kind of endorsement alignment is how athletes become cultural multipliers: their first signature shoe or brand deal becomes a symbol, and a lens for how younger athletes and fans see the sport. For Flagg to be already in that conversation tells us SI expects his imprint off the court to be almost as consequential as what he does with the ball.
We should also consider timing. The 2025 Power List is being published relatively early in Flagg’s professional life, meaning that inclusion is more anticipatory than retrospective. While long‑established stars are often included because their influence is proven, Flagg is being included because the sports world has already judged his trajectory — through statistical accomplishments, media buzz, draft status, and marketing potential — worthy of preemptive recognition.
Finally, it’s worth noting that being on such a list lends itself to compounding effects: attention begets attention. Brands, media, sponsors, and even social media algorithms respond to external signals like SI naming you as powerful. That amplifies Flagg’s reach, enhances his bargaining power, and could make him a first call for endorsements or cross‑platform collaborations earlier than peers might get.
To summarize: while SI doesn’t assign a strict number to Cooper Flagg in its 50 Most Influential list, his inclusion in the Athletes section — and the language used to frame his status — positions him among the upper tier of that list. It signals that his influence is expected to stretch beyond the hardwood, into branding, culture, and media. It gives him early credibility and visibility, but also sets high expectations. In short: SI is betting that Flagg will be not just a basketball star, but an enduring force in the broader landscape of sports
