The Dallas Mavericks hold the No.1 pick of the 2025 NBA draft. After securing the top pick at the draft lottery, many believe that the Mavericks will utilize it to draft former Duke star Cooper Flagg. Even before the season ended, draft experts had already labeled the star forward as the potential No. 1 pick in his draft class. In just a few hours, his dream of being in the league could come to fruition.
Cooper Flagg is a unique player as he doesn’t focus on one thing on the court. The 6-foot-9 forward is a talented offensive force, making it hard for scouts to find an accurate comparison. Several scouts have pointed out that the youngster is similar to players like Jayson Tatum, Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Pippen.
However, former NBA player Kendrick Perkins had an unusual analogy to this year’s top prospect. Perkins mentioned two NBA stars whom he played with during his time in the league.
During ESPN’s coverage of the NBA draft, Perkins mentioned LeBron James and Kevin Garnett as players whom he sees in Cooper Flagg.
“This is how I look at Cooper Flagg. If LeBron James and Kevin Garnett had a baby, you’d get Cooper Flagg,” Perkins said.
“When you think about LeBron James, you think of a complete basketball player… he led the team in everything, that’s a LeBron type of thing and you talk about his passion, his tenacity. I’m watching KG all over again. The way that he plays with a high level.
“This is how I look at Cooper Flagg. If LeBron James and Kevin Garnett had a baby, you'd get Cooper Flagg.”
— Kendrick Perkins
(via @ESPNNBA, h/t @awfulannouncing)pic.twitter.com/WbWFocqeYu
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 25, 2025
“You talk about his competitive nature and saying, ‘This is one of the most competitive guys over the last 20 years.’ It is, because most guys in high school nowadays, they re-class and go the other way. He re-classed up. He’s running up the chimney looking for the smoke.”
It may be an absurd comparison, but it shows that the Dallas Mavericks could have a generational player in Cooper Flagg.
The Dallas Mavericks ink a new deal with Kyrie Irving, Solidifying Forming A Duo With Cooper Flagg For At Least Two More Years
The Dallas Mavericks are set to build a future with Flagg and the veteran stars on the team. On Tuesday, it was reported that the Mavericks have signed All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to a three-year, $119 million extension. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the 2016 champion declined his $43 million player option.
“Mavericks officials and Irving’s agent, Shetellia Riley Irving, negotiated the new deal that keeps Irving out of free agency and in Dallas long term,” Charania wrote. “The new deal includes a player option in the 2027-28 season, sources said.”
The Mavericks are staying committed to Irving as he recovers from the torn ACL he sustained late in the season. He averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 50 games.
With him staying, Irving will get to play and potentially mentor Cooper Flagg.
For other sports-related content:
Follow me on X at @BarbecueBro, and follow us at @HardwoodHeroics and @GridironHeroics. You can also reach out to Reign Amurao via email at reignamuraonba@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!
Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
