ESPN insider Brian Windhorst believes Dallas Mavericks young star Cooper Flagg could make a massive second-year jump, comparing his trajectory to LeBron James early in his NBA career.
"Cooper Flagg kept giving me flashbacks to LeBron James as a rookie," Windhorst wrote. "By LeBron's second season, he was a top-five player, and I feel strongly that this is Flagg's destiny too."
Flagg is coming off a successful rookie season after Dallas selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The 19-year-old forward averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in 70 games, starting every appearance for the Mavericks. He led all rookies in scoring and led Dallas in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals.
His debut campaign earned him NBA Rookie of the Year honors and a unanimous selection to the All-Rookie First Team.
LeBron James' leap
James entered the NBA as the No. 1 pick in 2003 and immediately averaged 20.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds as a rookie with the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning Rookie of the Year.
He then made a major jump in his second season, averaging 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists, earning his first All-Star selection and making the All-NBA Second Team.
LeBron finished sixth in MVP voting that year.