LeBron James, a notably acclaimed player in the NBA, believes that Cooper Flagg, a star player from Duke and one of the top prospects for the 2025 NBA Draft, is destined for greatness.

“I personally think that he wants to be great. He had a hell of a year at Duke. A guy that can do so many different things out on the floor… he gets to join a team that’s established with Hall of Fame guys — Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving — right off the bat,” said James, discussing Flagg’s fit within the Dallas Mavericks, who hold the first overall pick in the upcoming draft.

This sentiment was shared on the Mind the Game podcast, co-hosted by James and Hall of Famer Steve Nash.

Flagg had a remarkable freshman season, leading Duke to the Final Four while averaging impressive stats: 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. His accolades include being named ACC Player of the Year and earning multiple prestigious awards such as the Wooden and Naismith awards.

The Mavericks are looking to bounce back after an underwhelming 2025 season, which included trading star player Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Their fortune took a turn when they won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery against all odds, allowing them to select Flagg as the top talent available in the draft.