Cooper Flagg Didn't Hesitate When Naming NBA Star He Wants to Jersey Swap With

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Borba | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 9:24 PM ET

Over half of the NBA had a sliver of hope that they would secure the top pick of the 2025 NBA Draft before the Dallas Mavericks miraculously ended up winning the lottery.

While this year's class has plenty of star power, the crown jewel of the class is Duke freshman Cooper Flagg.

The former No. 1 overall recruit who was Duke's highest-ranked recruit in program history despite reclassifying, excelled in Durham during what should have been his senior year of high school. He led Duke to the Final Four, was named ACC Player of the Year and was also named Naismith Men's Basketball Player of the Year.

He has been tabbed as the No. 1 pick for years, and barring a catastrophic decision by the Mavs, is set to head to Dallas.

While plenty of fans will be wanting to don a Flagg jersey in the future, the Maine native was asked on NBA Radio before the draft, which NBA player he wants to jersey swap with.

Like much of his class, Flagg had a certain player in mind.

"I mean, probably LeBron (James)," Flagg said.

James has been a firm supporter of Flagg, who practiced against him before the 2024 Paris Olympics, as Flagg was a member of the USA Select Team. On a recent episode of his podcast, "Mind the Game," James revealed his thoughts on Flagg.

"I think that will be an incredible thing to have that type of presence, that type of leadership, that type of just basketball IQ and knowledge around him every single day from those pieces," James said. "So, I think he's going to be amazing."

While the NBA schedule for next season has yet to be revealed, Flagg going up against James and former Maverick Luka Doncic will be must-see television. Whether or not he ends up getting the jersey is yet to be seen, but based on how high James is on him, it seems like a safe bet.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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