LeBron James praises Cooper Flagg ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft

LeBron James Endorses Cooper Flagg

Cooper Flagg has caught the attention of LeBron James, who recently shared his thoughts on the rising star.

In the latest episode of “Mind the Game,” which aired on Tuesday, James discussed why he appreciates Flagg’s potential as the top NBA Draft prospect. “Personally, he wants to be great. He spent a year in, well, let’s call it a challenging situation at Duke,” James noted while speaking with Steve Nash. “[Flagg is] a versatile player who can handle the ball or operate off the ball. His jump shots are set to get better too. He’s super athletic with an impressive second jump.”

Since the Mavericks won the draft lottery in May, Flagg is expected to join the team, which aims to remain competitive this season despite having a roster full of experienced players and the recent trade of Luka Doncic.

James feels confident that Flagg’s abilities will contribute to this plan.

“He has advantages, but unlike my experience, he gets to join a team with Hall of Fame players like Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, and Kyrie Irving. They can share invaluable insights while figuring out how Flagg fits in,” James added.

Back in 2003, when James was drafted by the Cavaliers during a tough 17-65 season, he was immediately burdened with heavy expectations.

Flagg, on the other hand, won’t face the same kind of pressure, thanks to the veteran presence around him. He’ll certainly pick up a thing or two along the way.

James commented, “It’s fantastic for him to be surrounded by such knowledge daily—having that kind of leadership and basketball IQ is invaluable.”

Despite not overshadowing every other prospective player in any one area, Flagg’s well-rounded skill set has set him apart.

During his brief but impressive season at Duke, Flagg earned numerous accolades, including the Naismith Award, Wooden Award, AP Player of the Year, and was recognized as a consensus All-American.