Only a handful of athletes leave their mark by stepping onto the court on Christmas Day as a rookie – most notably LeBron James in 2003. But over 21 years later, his record is under threat from the talented Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg.
Flagg is poised to make history again as the first No. 1 overall pick to grace the December 25 slate since James did it. This rare achievement sends a clear message: history is watching, and a new chapter is beginning.
Flagg’s path to this moment has been exquisite: bursting onto scenes from Maine to Montverde Academy, lighting up Duke with dominant freshman performances, and racking up a record haul of awards-ACC Player of the Year, National Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year among them.
Now, he arrives in Dallas to join a win-now Mavericks squad packed with veterans like Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and Kyrie Irving.
The second-youngest No.1 pick comes with hype
At just 18 years and 187 days old, Flagg has become the second-youngest first overall pick in NBA history, trailing only LeBron himself. That parallel – Christmas Day debut, precocious age, and game-changing potential – couldn’t be more striking.
LeBron’s rookie Christmas grace notes included 20 points in a Cavaliers win that went to overtime. Flagg arrives with an arguably more supportive setup.
He received a heap of praise from James on his Mind the Game podcast, calling him “a guy who can do so many different things on the floor… super athletic, quick second jump,” bolstered by the presence of future Hall of Famers and a proven coach in Jason Kidd.
With those dynamics, Flagg is not just a milestone to watch – he’s a signal flare for the next era of Mavericks basketball – and Flagg’s impact extends beyond footnotes.
In Summer League play, he called one outing “possibly one of the worst” of his life – yet followed it with a 31-point explosion that showed both growth and raw talent. Duke’s records-including being the first ACC freshman in 25 years with 500+ points, 100+ assists, and 30+ blocks-only deepen the narrative around his readiness.
Flagg arrives with a different task
While comparisons to LeBron are inevitable, insiders frame the arrival differently. James played in a rebuilding Cleveland squad; Flagg steps into a competitive Mavericks roster with established stars, shifting the potential arc of his career even higher.
If he can live up to the Christmas Day billing, Flagg may not just match James’ footprint-he could redefine rookie expectations.
At the very least, the wall has words written across it. The question now is whether Cooper Flagg will sign his own name in that lineage-or surpass it entirely.
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