It’s one thing to say that the top NBA draft prospect, Cooper Flagg, will be one of the best drafted players in recent memory, but it’s a big thing to compare him with four-time NBA champion LeBron James just yet.
Boston Celtics legend Brian Scalabrine claimed that Flagg has the potential, skills and talent to match what James has achieved in his NBA career. Speaking to Yahoo Sports on Tuesday, June 24, Scalabrine weighed in on the upside that Flagg carries, along with the prediction that the Duke star will match many of LeBron’s feats in the coming years.
“LeBron James — he’s just not an F1 racer. LeBron is 260 pounds, fast, 44-inch vertical, head above the rim,” Scalabrine said. “Cooper Flagg’s not a bad athlete—he’s a great athlete. But LeBron’s a super-athlete. Still, they process the game the same way. I know it’s unfair, but I’ll eventually be right. People will know, like three years from now, they’ll be like, ‘Oh yeah, Scout said it.’”
Scalabrine added that if Flagg plays around the same number of seasons as James, he may be placed in the same echelon.
“If Flagg has the same longevity, I’m just giving a comparison of what he could be,” Scalabrine added. “You can’t look at 50,000 points or championships and all that stuff—there’s some variable to it. But think about it: LeBron has scored 50,000 points and still doesn’t have a go-to shot. I’m not sure he has a go-to shot.
The former player continued:
“He’s just a basketball player who makes things happen. Defensively, LeBron is a freak of nature. He can run the point—he’s a 6’8” point guard. That’s how he trends—more than a shooting guard or a Kawhi Leonard type. And Flagg? He won’t say it, but that’s what it’s going to be.”
"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
What Cooper Flagg Needs to Do to Live Up to LeBron James’ Comparison?
With comparisons to LeBron James floating around, Cooper Flagg enters the 2025 NBA Draft with loads of expectations. He is likely to be picked by the Dallas Mavericks, who hold the No. 1 pick.
LeBron has so far played 1,562 regular-season games and counting. If Flagg wants to match this longevity, he needs to withstand the rigors of an 82-game season and deep playoff runs.
Apart from that, LeBron has played 22 seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the LA Lakers, and the Miami Heat. He boasts insane averages with 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. Moreover, he holds the record of appearing in 21 All-Star games.
As far as accolades are concerned, LeBron has earned the Rookie of the Year award, four regular-season MVP awards and four Finals MVP awards.
First things first. Flagg’s target for the 2025 season should be to win the Rookie of the Year and then match his resume accordingly to that of LeBron.
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