Duke Blue Devils No. 2 Cooper Flagg throws a pass against the Arizona Sun Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, on Oct. 27, 2024.
Grant Halverson | Getty Images
Gatorade is adding another big-name athlete to its already loaded portfolio.
Duke first-year men’s basketball player Cooper Flagg has agreed to a name, image and likeness deal PepsiGatorade, which the company owns, according to Tuesday’s announcement. Flagg is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 National Basketball Association draft and has already reached NIL deals with brands like New Balance and New Era.
“This has been a big year for me, both on and off the court, and Gatorade has been there for me,” Flagg said in a release. “From being named Gatorade of the Year The best men’s player to now officially join the team, it’s surreal to have my name mentioned alongside some of the most well-known names in basketball. Gatorade’s roster is iconic and I’m excited to be working with them when I take it. It’s up to them to make the next move.
As part of the deal, Gatorade will use Flagg in its marketing. Terms of the deal, like the rest of Flagg’s deal, have not been made public.
Flagg is the latest example of the college sports landscape looking completely different than it did before 2021. Since NIL agreements were approved, college athletes have been able to take advantage of endorsement deals like never before.
Players like Flagg, a highly regarded rookie and possible NBA star, have been able to secure ZERO deals, some reportedly worth millions of dollars.
Flagg is Gatorade’s first men’s college basketball player, and other college women’s basketball stars include UConn’s Paige Bueckers and USC’s JuJu Watkins, as well as Colorado’s Shedelle Sanders and other college football stars.
“Cooper is an incredible talent who has quickly become one of the best young athletes in the country,” Jeff Kearney, global head of sports marketing for Gatorade, said in a statement. , we know he has a bright future. “At Gatorade, we work with the best, so we are proud to welcome Cooper to the family and excited to provide him with a boost as his college career begins. “
Flagg signed his no-deal contract before playing in a college basketball game that counted as a season record. Duke plays its first regular season game against Maine on Monday.
