The Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Dallas Mavericks in one of the NBA season’s most anticipated early season matchups. The Lakers remained undefeated in NBA Cup play with a 129-119 victory over the Mavs. While there was a lot of star power on display with LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Anthony Davis, there was a lot of attention on this year’s first overall pick, Copper Flagg. In a clash of generations, Flagg took the court against James and revealed his thoughts after the game.
What Did Cooper Flagg Say About LeBron James
Flagg praised James while speaking to the media after the loss to the Lakers. When asked about facing James, Flagg said “It’s incredible, obviously, to see what he’s still able to do. However old he is, it’s incredible, and I think the best thing for him right now at least, is just how smart he is. He’s always the smartest, if not one of the smartest players on the court. He just plays with such a high IQ and just making the game easy on himself.”
Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg on going against LeBron James pic.twitter.com/Csc9fo3Kx1
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 29, 2025
Flagg came close to a triple-double in the Mavs’ loss to the Lakers, scoring 13 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and dishing out 11 assists. His playmaking stands out, as he started the season as the Mavs’ point guard before moving back to his natural spot on the wing. Flagg only had one turnover during the game, which was an offensive foul, so his vision and feel for making the right plays are improving as the season progresses.
The Mavs’ loss moved them to 1-3 in the NBA Cup, and they’ve already been eliminated from the tournament. The Mavs are currently 14th in the Western Conference standings with a 5-15 record, and are already being mentioned as potential sellers at the trade deadline.
Flagg can use James as a reference point during his struggles. Both players were viewed as generational talents when they were drafted first overall. While James, who had 13 points and seven assists in the Lakers’ win, was perhaps the most hyped prospect of all time, Flagg faces similar pressure.
The hype around Flagg increased after the Mavs shockingly traded Doncic to the Lakers. Now, Flagg must deal with meeting his own hype and leading the Mavs to the NBA Finals, just like Doncic.
In the short term, Mavs fans hope Flagg will continue to get better throughout his rookie season, just like James.
