Whereas evaluating any participant to virtually any model of LeBron James appears far-fetched, Cooper Flagg‘s manufacturing as an 18-year-old rookie has many believing that each gamers are lower from the identical material, a sentiment that has been expressed by followers even earlier than Flagg’s debut.
He got here into the league behind a number of hype this season, greater than we’ve seen for any rookie since Victor Wembanyama two years in the past.
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He acquired off to a gradual begin however has discovered his footing, averaging 21.9 factors, 6.1 rebounds, and three.9 assists in his final 15 video games. One of many few instances followers have witnessed an 18-year-old produce at such a stage was when James arrived in Cleveland in 2003.
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Cooper Flagg is about to show 19 on Sunday, making this the right time to check his statistical output at 18 to that of the King throughout his early days with the Cavaliers.
Has Cooper Flagg carried out higher than LeBron James at age 18?
Flagg has averaged 18.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg and three.5 apg, capturing 47.8% and 23.4% from 3-point vary as an 18-year-old. In the meantime, James averaged 20.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 6.1 apg.
The statistics make it clear that James was extra profitable on the identical age, regardless of many similarities of their enjoying kinds. Flagg has been harking back to a younger LeBron James, at the very least by way of physicality.
Very like James in his rookie season, Flagg additionally depends on drives to the basket for almost all of his scoring. Whereas he has a sturdy body, permitting him to maintain this fashion of play, 18-year-old James had a number of issues over him.
LeBron was far more athletic and agile than Flagg. Furthermore, he was much more bodily gifted than the Mavericks’ rookie, permitting him to keep up his stage regardless of the elevated physicality within the league throughout the early 2000s.
One more reason behind James’ higher manufacturing may very well be the belief that was instilled in him from his first day within the league. Whereas Cooper Flagg is studying find out how to play in a system with stars like Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis, LeBron was the No. 1 choice since day one.
The distinction in conditions and bodily skills finally helped James produce the best way he did as an 18-year-old. However Flagg is a bodily freak in his personal proper with a motor to match.
He has executed issues that James or every other 18-year-old has not executed within the NBA, like his 40-point efficiency towards the Utah Jazz on Monday. What Cooper Flagg lacks in athleticism when in comparison with an 18-year-old James, he makes up for it together with his ability.
Matching as much as any model of one of many biggest gamers of all time is a tall job, however one which Flagg has managed after his first few video games within the league. On the price he’s creating, it wouldn’t shock anybody if he seems to be all the pieces he has been marketed to be.
Edited by Sameer Khan