Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks was one of the most anticipated draft prospects in recent memory, with multiple teams attempting to tank for his services.
Despite being 18-years-old, his upside is regarded as all-time great worthy, seeing how he is a point forward that can do everything on the floor. During Flagg’s time at Duke, he was comfortable creating for himself and his fluid movement at 6’9″ is of the likes of a Kevin Durant.
Dallas is attempting to mold him into a point guard and the No. 1 ball-handler, which has been a bit of a learning curve for the rookie. But teammate Klay Thompson has high hopes for him, going as far as to compare him to Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant, via Jake Ferraro of The Smoking Cuban:
“I’m not saying he is Kobe, but I remember what that relationship looked like,” Thompson said about Flagg comparing him to Bryant. “Now that I’m in that position, I want to show him how much this game means to me, being out there every night.”
It is smart to tone down his comparison, but Flagg is in a similar situation to Bryant. The Black Mamba went to the NBA straight out of high school, played with Shaquille O’Neal, who was in his prime and combined to win three straight titles.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks’ No. 1 overall pick is playing with multiple veterans with the expectation of winning right away. Dallas views Flagg as their franchise player already, which is a lot of pressure for a young adult.
Eventually, Bryant embraced being the face of a franchise as he quickly realized the winning standard the Lakers have and won five championships. As the Maine native continues to get reps under his belt, Flagg will grow into that responsibility and mature as both a player and a leader.
While expectations are lofty, there remains uncertainty on whether the Mavericks will turn over their roster to better suit their young star. If they do, it will be intriguing to see if Flagg can become a championship-caliber player and a No. 1 option.
Luka Doncic believes Cooper Flagg will be great player
Once the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic, many did not see a pleasant future in Dallas, given their lack of draft capital. However, with one of their remaining assets and a 1.8% chance of winning the lottery, Cooper Flagg fell into their laps.
In what felt like a get out of jail free card, the Mavericks suddenly have a glimmer of hope. After Doncic played against Flagg on Nov. 29, he came away impressed and believes the rookie will be a great player.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
