Dallas Mavericks rookie forward Cooper Flagg is drawing early statistical comparisons to LeBron James, with both players posting remarkably similar numbers during their teenage years in the NBA. The comparison, which centers on their performance before turning 20, highlights Flagg’s immediate impact after being selected first in the draft.
As of November 5, Flagg averages 21.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in his NBA career, shooting 46.8% from the field. These figures closely mirror LeBron James’ teenage averages of 21.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, with a 43.6% field goal percentage. Flagg’s superior field goal accuracy is offset by James’ better three-point shooting at 31.7% compared to Flagg’s 28.5%. Boxscores of All-Star Frank Urbina, of HoopsHype, has sat James and Flagg at the same table to compare their teenage statistics.
Statistical Parallels
Analysts have compared the teenage statistics of Cooper Flagg and LeBron James. While their basic statistics are very similar, LeBron James holds an advantage in advanced metrics from his rookie season, including VORP (2.9 to 2.0), BPM (1.7 to 1.4), and Win Shares (5.1 to 3.8). These metrics suggest James was slightly more efficient and valuable on a per-possession basis during his adolescence. LeBron James’ superiority in efficiency is attributed to the context of a more difficult offensive era, making direct scoring comparisons potentially misleading. However, when adjusted to 100 possessions, Flagg surpasses James in points and rebounds.
Rookie Milestones
Cooper Flagg has already made history, becoming the first teenager to score 50 points in a single NBA game with a 51-point performance against Orlando in April. He has played 77 official games so far, with his 20th birthday on December 21 still looming, leaving room for more games to be added to his teenage total. LeBron James played 79 games in his rookie season and accumulated 108 games during his NBA adolescence.
The Unfinished Debate
The comparison is not intended to determine which player was better during their first 15 months in the league, as it leads to no definitive conclusion. LeBron James currently maintains a slight advantage in the ranking of the best teenagers in NBA history, but Flagg’s evolution over the next 17 games could force a review of the comparison. It is not merely a generational adaptation, as parents and children seem increasingly to agree that at the very top are Jordan and LeBron, and then—Magic, Russell, Chamberlain, Jabbar, Bird, Shaq, Olajuwon, Kobe—the rest.
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