Yardbarker
x
Cooper Flagg puts facing LeBron James in perspective after latest matchup  
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg. Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Cooper Flagg puts facing LeBron James in perspective after latest matchup  

By Mike J. Asti  |  Last updated Apr 6, 2026 10:04 AM ET

From the moment he entered the NBA as a teenager, Cooper Flagg has been compared to LeBron James. Now as he's nearing the end of his historic rookie season, those comparisons have only intensified. 

Both for their similar styles of play and accomplishments in Year 1, Flagg's name will always be brought up next to James' in basketball circles. And on Sunday night, Flagg was able to reflect on that after his last head-to-head matchup with James' Lakers this season. 

Cooper Flagg dreamed of matching up with LeBron James one day as a kid 

"It's a dream come true," said Flagg while talking with reporters following the Mavericks' 134-28 win over James' Lakers, a surprising result that saw Dallas claim only its 25th win of the season over 50-win Los Angeles. 

"I think it's pretty cool. Obviously, he's somebody that when I was a little kid, I was watching him go through his whole career. So it's really impressive, obviously, first of all, just to be able to watch him still be able to do the things he's able to do out there. But it's a dream come true. These are the moments, these are the times to be able to matchup with somebody like that. He's obviously one of the greats. So it's incredible."

Flagg was even able to watch James continue to defy logic at 41 by scoring 30 points with nine rebounds and 15 assists, falling just one board shy of a 30-point triple-double. 

But Flagg made sure to show James what he can do as well, putting up 45 points in 39 minutes while adding eight rebounds and nine assists. Flagg even joined an exclusive club, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only rookies in league history to score at least 96 points across a two-game span.

Flagg has put up numbers the NBA has never seen from a teenager 

In fact, Flagg has been creating history all season. Most recently, he became the first teenager to ever record a 50-point game, scoring 51 in a Friday night loss to the Orlando Magic. And to put that in perspective, James didn't post his first 50-point game until his third season at 20. 

Will Flagg win ROY like James did over 20 years ago? 

Flagg's recent dominance is his last-ditch effort to make his case to be named Rookie of the Year, an award James won after the 2003-04 season in a close race over Carmelo Anthony. In Anthony's role for Flagg is his old college teammate at Duke Kon Knueppel, who has made his own rookie year historic and helped the Charlotte Hornets emerge as playoff contender.  

Regardless if Flagg claims the trophy, all signs point to embarking on a legendary career of his own.

Mike J. Asti
Twitter/X

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!