LeBron James Says Cooper Flagg Will Have a Benefit He Didn’t Have

If Flagg is picked by Dallas as expected, he'll join a team with three established stars, unlike James when he entered the league with Cleveland in 2003.
LeBron James Says Cooper Flagg Will Have a Benefit He Didn’t Have
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James during a game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas on Jan. 7, 2025. LM Otero/AP Photo
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As Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James continues the twilight of his career, he will soon get to face one of the most heralded prospects since his entry into the league.

That’s Maine native Cooper Flagg, who is projected to go to the Dallas Mavericks with the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft on Wednesday in Brooklyn, New York. Flagg, 18, is fresh off an outstanding freshman season at Duke, where he became the National Player of the Year and led the Blue Devils to the Final Four.

Matthew Davis
Matthew Davis
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Matthew Davis is an experienced, award-winning journalist who has covered major professional and college sports for years. His writing has appeared on Heavy, the Star Tribune, and The Catholic Spirit. He has a degree in mass communication from North Dakota State University.