{"id":399890,"date":"2026-11-07T23:15:27","date_gmt":"2026-11-07T22:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/en\/?p=399890"},"modified":"2026-11-11T07:35:56","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T07:35:56","slug":"flagg-lebron-sweet-nineteens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/en\/flagg-lebron-sweet-nineteens\/","title":{"rendered":"Flagg and LeBron: the sweet nineteens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If 30 years ago the press talked about \u2018the new Jordan\u2019 <\/em>every time a youngster stood out above the rest, the simplicity of the epithet has endured with one small change of name: today it is \u2018the new LeBron\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it is not a mere generational adaptation, because while parents and children will never bury the hatchet over Jordan or LeBron, LeBron or Jordan, they increasingly seem to agree that those two are at the very top, and then \u2013 Magic, Russell, Chamberlain, Jabbar, Bird, Shaq, Olajuwon, Kobe \u2013 everyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while as a rule the comparison is nothing more than pure clickbait<\/em>, there are occasions, though few, when it can make sense. Which in itself speaks very highly of the young man in question. Because the mere fact of being mentioned alongside Jordan or LeBron and coming out well shows there is a serious player there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because that is exactly what Cooper Flagg is. A No. 1 Draft pick who is starting to prove right all those who insisted we were looking at an absolutely generational first pick <\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.nbamaniacs.com\/noticias\/kyrie-irving-avisa-sobre-cooper-flagg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Frank Urbina, of HoopsHype<\/em><\/a>, has sat James and Flagg at the same table. But at an early version of both: the one from before turning twenty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the data collected as of 5 November, the Dallas forward is averaging 21.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists in his fledgling NBA career. LeBron finished his teenage years on 21.9, 5.9 and 6.2 respectively. Flagg has better field-goal accuracy (46.8% against 43.6%); James, though it is not a strong point for either, is better from three (31.7% to 28.5%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this first numerical comparison Flagg not only holds his own, but has plenty to be proud of, such as a historic 51-point night \u2013 against Orlando in April \u2013 to become the first teenager to reach fifty in the NBA.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we wade into deeper waters, however, LeBron keeps the lead with better advanced stats during his rookie season: VORP, BPM and Win Shares<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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