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Cooper Flagg Claims Historic ROY As Jason Kidd Sees A Young LeBron James
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- Cooper Flagg Claims Historic ROY As Jason Kidd Sees A Young LeBron James
Cooper Flagg arrived in Dallas with the kind of attention that follows a No. 1 pick. He also carried expectations that few players his age have faced before.
Jason Kidd is joining the discussion about Flagg. The coach sees a lot of talent in Flagg and believes he has the potential to be as grea t as LeBron James . This comparison shows that Kidd thinks Flagg can succeed.
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Jason Kidd Sees Cooper Flagg On A LeBron James-Like Path
Former Dallas Mavericks coach Kidd believes Flagg is on the right track to follow the early path of James. Kidd made the comparison in a recent interview with ALL-STAR Magazine , pointing to Flagg's approach to the game rather than relying solely on his production.
Apr 5, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) greets Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) after the game at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
"Well, I think he's on pace, when you talk about LeBron, and what he did as a young player," Kidd said praising his maturity. "And then also, Cooper's ability. He's one who loves to win, wants to win, and likes to work. He's not afraid of the moment when you saw him at Duke, taking the game-winning shot, and missing. He's not afraid of the moment. So I would say he's on pace."
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That last point says a lot about Kidd's thinking. Flagg did not need to make the shot at Duke to impress him.
The willingness to take it mattered more. In the 2025 Final Four against Houston, Flagg had a chance to put Duke ahead late but missed the jumper with eight seconds left. Houston won 70-67. Flagg later said it was a shot he was willing to live with because he trusted the work that went into it.
Flagg then backed up that confidence during his first NBA season. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists across 70 games for Dallas. He also became the first rookie since Michael Jordan to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals.
Nov 22, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) looks back at guard Kyrie Irving (left) during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
That incredible production is exactly why the LeBron James comparisons are starting. Flagg won the 2025–26 NBA Rookie of the Year award after a historic debut season with the Mavericks.
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At 19 years old, the teenage sensation became the second-youngest player in league history to claim the honor, trailing only James
Kidd, however, stopped short of treating those similarities as a guarantee. He raised the two things that could ultimately decide whether Flagg reaches James's level.
"Now, can he stay healthy like LeBron?" Kidd said. "And then I think all greats are judged with championships. Not so much stats, but that's the one stat that will stand out, and hopefully Cooper can achieve that."
Jan 1, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd and forward Cooper Flagg (32) look on during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
That is what makes Kidd's comparison so powerful. Flagg has already given him plenty of reason to say it. But now comes the hard part. Matching James means turning a flashy start into a career that lasts. The early hype will eventually fade, and that is when the real test begins.
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