With less than 24 hours left until the draft, the excitement around the city of Dallas will be high. Having lost their star Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers during a midseason trade, the Mavericks fanbase was distraught. And while the acquisitions certainly kept the Mavs competitive, the arrival of arguably the safest first-pick since LeBron James will make them scary to face.
And while it is too early to tell if Cooper Flagg would be able to enjoy the kind of success James has enjoyed through his illustrious career, NBA veteran Brian Scalabrine certainly sees similarities that prove the rising star is built for success.
Brian Scalabrine Spots Striking Similarities Among the No.1 Picks
“He’s just a basketball player that makes things happen.” The former NBA player said of Flagg. “LeBron’s a freak of nature defensively. He’s a freak of nature defensively. LeBron can run point, he can run point. Six, eight point guard, six, eight point guard.” He’s not wrong, they do seem quite similar. However, what’s fascinating about Flagg is the kind of poise he shows at 18. And even that points us in the direction of LeBron.
“I’ll eventually be right … three years from now [people] will be like ‘Scal said it’.”@Scalabrine speaks on how Cooper Flagg has LeBron James-like potential in the NBA pic.twitter.com/KoSesFROwS
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 24, 2025
There’s simply no escaping the comparison. However, Scalabrine also warned not to measure success in statistics, as too many variables are involved. “I’m just giving a comparison of what he could be, but you can’t look at 50,000 points to championships and any of that stuff.” he said. But when comparing an incoming rookie to James, you must also consider the strongest weapon James wields. Longevity.
James passed Kareem Abdul Jabbar this season on the most regular-season games played list and is now ranked second. Over the course of his career, James has played in 1,562 regular-season games, and that is owed to how well he takes care of his body.
The king hasn’t just played in the league this long; he’s ruled it, evident in his all-time scoring crown. So, for Flagg to even consider reaching James’ level statistically, he will need a lot of things to go well for him physically, something that just happens to be a variable.
While Scalabrine does accept that, he still stands tall on his claim. Cooper Flagg is the truth, and the former Celtics player is doubling down on him. “I’ll eventually be right … three years from now [people] will be like ‘Scal said it’,” he stated.
MORE: Try Our Free NBA Mock Draft Simulator
James himself hasn’t shied away from praising the Duke alum, stating, “he’s going to be amazing”. And as James started to talk about Flagg, it sounded reminiscent of the first-pick from 2003. “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.”
As James drew the comparison, he also pointed out that Flagg will have something he didn’t at the start of his career. An established team.
“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,” James said. With a team to compete immediately, Flagg can make a smooth transition to the NBA while competing for a championship. And he doesn’t even have to be the bus driver off the jump, while he has proven time and again that he can be.
When Hall of Famer caliber players say you’re destined for greatness, the pressure has to be at an all-time high. But with an able cast of stars lined up around him, unlocking Flagg’s potential could make for a highly entertaining season in Dallas.
