LeBron James: Cooper Flagg to Mavericks – Reaction
- The NBA draft commences Wednesday night at the Barclays Center, with Duke standout Cooper Flagg widely anticipated to be the first player selected.
- barring an upset, the Dallas Mavericks are poised to draft Flagg, making him the second-youngest No.
- On his "Mind the Game" podcast, James expressed admiration for the young player.
LeBron James weighs in on Cooper Flagg‘s expected arrival with the Dallas Mavericks. James praises Flagg’s potential and basketball IQ, highlighting the advantages of joining an established team with Hall of Famers. Discover how Flagg’s situation differs from James’s rookie season with the Cavaliers, and how this might impact his trajectory in the NBA. The young player is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. News directory 3 brings you this exclusive insight into the future of basketball. What specific impact will Flagg have on the Mavericks? Discover what’s next …
Cooper Flagg Expected to be Top Pick in NBA Draft
Updated June 24, 2025
The NBA draft commences Wednesday night at the Barclays Center, with Duke standout Cooper Flagg widely anticipated to be the first player selected. His all-around performance for the Blue Devils, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals en route to the Final Four, solidified his status.
barring an upset, the Dallas Mavericks are poised to draft Flagg, making him the second-youngest No. 1 pick in NBA history, onyl surpassed by LeBron James, who was drafted first overall by the Cavaliers in 2003. James has lauded Flagg’s potential.
On his “Mind the Game” podcast, James expressed admiration for the young player. “I personally think that he wants to be great,” James said. ”He had a hell of a year at Duke. A guy that can do so many different things out on the floor. Can play with the ball, can play without the ball. His jump shot is going to continue to get better. Super athletic, quick second jump.”
James also noted a key difference between his entry into the NBA and Flagg’s. Flagg will promptly join a team featuring established stars. “He has the benefit, unlike myself, he gets to join a team that’s established with Hall of Fame guys — Klay Thompson, anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving — right off the bat.Hall of Fame coach, Jason Kidd. You know, these guys are like, they can give him the whole blueprint while he continues to learn what his blueprint will be,” James said.
In contrast, James’s rookie season saw him leading the Cavaliers with 20 points per game, but the team finished fifth in the Central Division. His supporting cast included Carlos Boozer, Ricky davis, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. James didn’t reach the playoffs until his third season. The Mavericks’ current roster, if healthy, presents a significantly stronger situation for Flagg.
“I think that will be an incredible thing to have that type of presence, that type of leadership, that type of just basketball IQ and knowledge around him every single day from those pieces,” James said. “So,I think he’s going to be amazing.”
What’s next
With the NBA draft just hours away, all eyes are on whether the Dallas Mavericks will indeed select Cooper Flagg, and how he will integrate into their already talented roster. the expectations are high for this young player.