Cooper Flagg is a prospect like few we have ever seen. Flagg’s first NBA game will be before he even turns 19 years old.
He was so good in high school that he was able to reclassify and enter college a year sooner than most people his age.
Without even playing a single NBA game in his career, he’s already drawing comparisons to a few of the all-time greats.
We don’t know yet if Flagg will be the player LeBron was when he entered the league, but both face similar pressure to take on the sport’s biggest stage with high expectations at such a young age.
You’ll hear a lot about Flagg’s stats being compared to where LeBron was in his first few seasons in the league over the years.
It’s only right, as Flagg will accomplish something this season that hasn’t been done since LeBron’s rookie year.
What 21-year drought will Flagg end?
Typically, when a number one overall pick enters the league, the team they are drafted to isn’t anywhere near a playoff-level team.
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You have to be a playoff-level team or a top-tier team (unless you’re the Knicks) to make one of the five games on the annual Christmas Day NBA slate.
That is thrown out of the window at times, as LeBron was able to make a Christmas Day appearance in his rookie year.
The Mavs were in a slightly different situation this year than the Cavs were when they won the lottery and drafted LeBron, as they were able to move up several spots to draft first overall and select Flagg.
The Mavs should be a lot better this upcoming season than the Cavs were in LeBron’s rookie year, yet both LeBron and Flagg played or will play in a Christmas Day game in their rookie year.
LeBron was the most recent first overall pick to play on Dec. 25, but now Flagg will break a two-plus decade drought of that not happening in a few months (per ClutchPoints).
This was purely a decision from the NBA, but it takes a lot of hard work and accolades at an early age to be the reason why your team gets to play on one of the most special days of the NBA regular season calendar.
LeBron had 34 points, 6 assists and 2 steals in a loss in his first Christmas Day game, setting the bar high for Flagg, who will play the Warriors this season.
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