NBA legend LeBron James praises the most likely No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg, ahead of the 2025 draft.
According to New York Times, the Los Angeles Lakers star believes that Flagg, who is expected to land with the Dallas Mavericks, is going to be a powerful player in the NBA (National Basketball Association).
James said at the Mind the Game podcast, “I personally think that he wants to be great. He had a hell of a year at Duke. (Flagg is) a guy that can do so many different things out on the floor. Can play with the ball and can play without the ball. His jump shot is going to continue to get better. Super athletic, quick second jump.”
Since the Dallas-based American basketball team won the draft lottery in May, it was predicted that Flagg would join the Mavericks as the top pick, which is rare.
“He has the benefit, unlike myself, he gets to join a team that’s established with Hall of Fame guys, Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, and Kyrie Irving, right off the bat. Hall of Fame coach Jason Kidd. They can give him the whole blueprint while he continues to learn what his blueprint will be,” he added.
The 40-year-old believes that it would be an “incredible thing” for Flagg to have such a type of presence, leadership, basketball IQ and knowledge around him every day.
Notably, the 18-year-old Flagg has won almost every major award during his first season at Duke, including the Naismith Award, Wooden Award, and AP Player of the Year. He was also named a consensus All-American.
