Sept. 12, 2026, 12:01 p.m. ET
Former Duke stars Jayson Tatum and Cooper Flagg are ranked as the top two small forwards in the NBA.Cooper Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year, has the opportunity to build off of a stellar rookie season.Jayson Tatum’s return from an Achilles injury was encouraging, but he now faces even greater responsibility for the Boston Celtics.Four former Duke players, including Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett, ranked in the top 20 at the position.
The NBA season is just around the corner, and two former Duke stars will enter the new season atop the league’s small forward hierarchy.
Jayson Tatum and Cooper Flagg claimed the top two spots in HoopsHype’s preseason small forward rankings, with Tatum holding the No. 1 spot and Flagg climbing to No. 2 entering his second NBA season.
Cooper Flagg takes the No. 2 spot
Flagg entered his rookie season bearing the weight of heavy expectations but lived up to the hype, averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists. He was even better over the final three months of the season, posting 23.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game to strengthen his case for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.
Flagg was given the green light early as the Mavericks entered a transition year following the Luka Doncic trade. With Kyrie Irving out for the season and Anthony Davis playing just 20 games before being dealt to the Washington Wizards, Flagg emerged as Dallas’ clear No. 1 offensive option. The increased responsibility gave him plenty of opportunities to produce, but it also made him the primary focus of opposing defenses.
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With Irving set to return and the Mavericks retooled with role players like Zaccharie Risacher, Santi Aldama and Marcus Sasser, Flagg should face less pressure to carry the offense. More support around him could make life easier offensively and give the reigning Rookie of the Year a chance to take another major step in his second season.
Tatum played just 16 games last season after recovering from the torn Achilles he suffered in the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals, but his performance during that stretch and in the Celtics’ first-round matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers showed he remains capable of playing at an elite level.
During the regular season, Tatum averaged 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists before increasing those numbers to 23.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game in the postseason. The more Tatum played, the more he resembled the player who established himself as one of the NBA’s premier forwards before the injury.
Tatum will face a different challenge this season after Boston moved on from 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown during the offseason. After spending their entire NBA careers together, Brown’s departure leaves Tatum with even greater responsibility as the Celtics attempt to remain competitive with a retooled roster.
In addition to Flagg and Tatum, former Blue Devils Brandon Ingram (No. 9) and RJ Barrett (No. 18) also ranked among the top small forwards this season. With four former Duke players in the top 20, including the top two spots, the Blue Devils’ presence at the position remains among the strongest in the NBA.
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