Cooper Flagg’s Phenomenal Rookie Season Leaves Analyst Dreaming of LeBron James-Type Growth

Brian Windhorst believes Cooper Flagg could make a LeBron James-like second-year leap.

Cooper Flagg’s Phenomenal Rookie Season Leaves Analyst Dreaming of LeBron James-Type Growth

LeBron James and Cooper Flagg (Image credits - Yahoo Sports)

The hype surrounding Cooper Flagg is real. Drafted out of Duke University as the No. 1 pick by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg has shown he has the tools to become one of the league’s top players.

After the shocking trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers at the trade deadline, the Mavs were desperate for a franchise player. Doncic was a generational talent who led them to the NBA Finals in 2024.

However, the Mavs could consider themselves lucky, as the first-round pick they received from the Lakers for Doncic turned into Flagg. Based on his rookie-season performance, Flagg has become their franchise player who can lead the team for years to come.

There is a growing sentiment that Flagg is on the verge of a major breakout season. ESPN Insider Brian Windhorst went as far as to compare his trajectory to LeBron James early in his NBA career.

Cooper Flagg kept giving me flashbacks to LeBron James as a rookie. By LeBron’s second season, he was a top-five player, and I feel strongly that this is Flagg’s destiny too.

Brian Windhorst on ESPN

Flagg became the second-youngest player to win the Rookie of the Year award behind LeBron James. It was a historic rookie season as he led the Mavs in points, rebounds, assists and steals and, hence, became the first rookie to lead his team in all four categories since Michael Jordan in the 1984-85 campaign.

The 19-year-old broke multiple records for a rookie last season. His performances saw many compare him to the King from his early days. Flagg may not have had the expectations surrounding him before entering the league as James did in 2003, but his rookie season makes the comparison to a young James warranted.

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Can Cooper Flagg take a huge leap as LeBron James did in his second season?

The Mavs missed the playoffs for the second straight year last season, finishing 12th in the Western Conference standings. While the Mavs didn’t get much in terms of results, their number one pick provided a bright spark for the future.

Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg (Image credits – The Guardian)

When the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted James in 2003, he was destined for greatness before he even made his debut. He averaged 20.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds and won the Rookie of the Year award in his debut season. Flagg’s rookie season numbers are similar to James’ as he averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 70 appearances.

James made a huge leap in his second season and averaged 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists, and earned his first All-Star selection and made the All-NBA Second Team. If things go according to plan, then Flagg is expected to post similar numbers in the 2026-27 campaign.

While the Mavs are not projected to be competitive next season, Windhorst believes that Flagg is ready to take the next big step in his career. With Kyrie Irving returning from his ACL tear after missing the entire 2025-26 campaign, Flagg will have an elite and a veteran point guard to play alongside.

Will Kyrie Irving play alongside Cooper Flagg or move to a contender at the deadline?

Kyrie Irving is the senior-most player in the Mavs locker room. His experience and leadership could be very helpful for Cooper Flagg next season. The 19-year-old had to function as the primary ball-handler several times last season in the absence of Irving.

With the former champion back in the lineup, that should ease some of the primary initiation pressure on Flagg. However, the Mavs are not seen as playoff contenders in a stacked Western Conference next season.

It is clear that the Mavs front office is building their team around Flagg for the future. Hence, that raises doubts regarding Irving’s future in Dallas. ESPN insider Tim MacMahon opened up on Irving’s future and believes that teams will be monitoring his situation leading up to the trade deadline.

Irving returns as the co-star and vocal leader of the team. The veteran that all these guys look up to. The question around the league is ‘For how long?’. They’re building around a 19-year-old prodigy in Cooper Flagg. So could there come a time when it makes sense for both sides to find a contender for Kyrie to go to?

Tim MacMahon on NBA Today

With the Mavs far from playoff contention heading into the new season, it is possible that Irving may be moved to a championship-contending team at the trade deadline next year. Till then, Mavs fans will be hoping to see the best out of Flagg and Irving as a duo.

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