Cooper Flagg has made a substantial sum even before stepping onto an NBA court. He reportedly earned a remarkable amount through name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals during his single season at Duke. With the Dallas Mavericks picking him first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, his earnings are set to increase significantly in his professional career.

Once his rookie contract is signed, Flagg will receive $62.7 million over the next four years. If he lives up to his potential as a generational talent, his salary could soar. Projections suggest that the average annual value of his second contract may exceed $70 million, with his third contract potentially surpassing $100 million, as indicated by projections from Spotrac.

Consequently, Flagg could become the first athlete in any of the four major North American professional sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) to earn $1 billion in on-field earnings. Let’s examine the prospects within each league that may approach this mark.

All salary information is sourced from Spotrac, unless stated otherwise.