Story by
Ex-Mavericks player says Cooper Flagg can't be face of NBA because he's white — and doubles down on it
- Story by
- Ex-Mavericks player says Cooper Flagg can't be face of NBA because he's white — and doubles down on it
Ex-Mavericks player says Cooper Flagg can't be face of NBA because he's white — and doubles down on it originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
With Cooper Flagg's hot start to his second NBA season, he's already emerged as one of the NBA's best players.
Advertisement
After winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2025-26, Flagg has looked like an All-NBA contender early in 2026-27, averaging 26.8 points, 6.6 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game in his first five matchups of the season.
As Flagg has continued his ascension toward star status, however, one former Mavericks player received backlash for his comments about the rising Dallas forward.
Here's what Charlie Villanueva said about Flagg.
MORE: Why predraft evaluations missed on Yaxel Lendeborg
Charlie Villanueva comments about Cooper Flagg
Villanueva, who played in the NBA from 2005-16 with a late Mavericks stint, was speaking on the "To The Baha" podcast with Thoe Pinson and other former NBA players when he made a comment about Flagg that resulted in some backlash.
Advertisement
" This might sound crazy, but I don't think in 2026 a white dude could be — I'm gonna be real — could be the face of the league, if I'm being honest," Villanuevasaid . "Because it's a Black league, right?"
Later on, Villanueva doubled down on his take.
"When is the last time we've seen a white man be the face of the league? Don't say Larry Bird, they had to pair him up with Magic ," Villanueva said. "When was the last time a white man was single-handedly the best player in the league?"
Villanueva then took to his own social media account to explain his comments, saying that the NBA is "70 to 75 percent Black."
Advertisement
"I see the comments BUT I still don't think some of y'all understand what I'm trying to say," Villanueva captioned his past. "And for the record, Cooper Flagg is HIM, wanna my favorite players!"
MORE NBA:
