Cooper Flagg arrived in the NBA this year surrounded by immense, almost surreal expectations. The 18-year-old was selected as the first overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, and even before playing a single regular-season game, the hype surrounding him has reached extraordinary levels.
Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins has been among the loudest voices predicting greatness for the young forward, claiming that Flagg’s potential could one day reach the heights achieved by LeBron James during his remarkable 23-year career.
Of course, both fans and analysts are aware that Perkins is known for making bold, and often controversial, statements, sometimes simply to stay relevant in the fast-paced world of social media. Still, ever since Dallas made Flagg their top pick, Perkins has been relentless in his praise, fueling an already blazing conversation about the rookie’s promise.
Cooper Flagg’s preseason so far
In the Mavericks’ preseason matchup against the Utah Jazz, Flagg logged 21 minutes and produced an encouraging stat line: 11 points, seven rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and one assist. For Perkins, those numbers were enough to draw a lofty comparison.
He is the white version of LeBron James,” Perkins declared. “When you talk about his IQ for the game, he has that. When you talk about his ability to be able to create, defend, do all those things, Cooper Flagg has that package, minus a little bit of athleticism than LeBron.
Perkins went even further, highlighting the chemistry developing between Flagg and star forward Anthony Davis, describing their dynamic as a potentially dominant “two-man game.”
I wouldn’t be surprised [that] come opening night, the ball is going to be in his hands. He’s going to be running that point forward position,” Perkins added, hinting at a significant role for the rookie from day one.
Analysts see a mature skillset beyond his years
NBA insider Brian Windhorst offered his own take, suggesting that Flagg may actually have better ball-handling skills than LeBron did as a rookie. He noted that James, despite his immense talent, was turnover-prone during his 2003 debut season, while Flagg committed none in the preseason game against Utah.
Dallas head coach Jason Kidd echoed the optimism, saying that based on what he saw against the Jazz, the Mavericks could become one of the league’s top shot-blocking teams this year. However, Kidd emphasized that sustaining such performance will require consistency from the young forward throughout the season.
Perkins later added:
They have all the pieces. When you have that front line, you have a Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis, a Lively, a [Daniel] Gafford … With that athleticism, not just protecting the rim but the fact that they could get out and slide those puppies on the perimeter, that is a problem.
The balance between potential and patience
Fans are eager to see Flagg evolve into the star he appears destined to become. Yet, it’s worth remembering that he is still only 18 years old, and the Mavericks may prefer to develop him gradually rather than rush his ascent. On the other hand, Flagg could surprise everyone by taking a massive leap right away, establishing himself as a cornerstone of the franchise. With the regular season just around the corner, the wait to see which version of Cooper Flagg emerges will soon be over.
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