"He's a freak of nature" - Ex-NBA champ claims Cooper Flagg has same ceiling as LeBron James with one big 'if'

Boston Celtics cult hero Brian Scalabrine shared his evaluation of the projected No.1 pick Cooper Flagg on Tuesday, comparing his potential to that of LeBron James.

Scalabrine, who has observed Flagg’s growth while training him since his early teens, believes the Maine native has the same mentality and skills as a young LeBron. With such assets, Scalabrine said Flagg could one day reach the Lakers star’s level — if he has James’ vaunted longevity.

After leading Duke to the NCAA Final Four and having a trailblazing last season, Flagg is likely headed to the Dallas Mavericks as the No. 1 pick. Speaking to Yahoo Sports, Scalabrine said of Flagg’s future:

“He's a freak of nature defensively. LeBron can run point, he can run point. Six-foot-eight point guard (Flagg). Six-foot-eight point guard (James). He trends like that more than a shooting guard or a [Kawhi] Leonard or anything like that.”

Scalabrine noted James’ thriving career at 40 but said that, despite their similarities, Cooper Flagg still needs time to prove he deserves the comparison.

“He's [Flagg] a good athlete — he's a great athlete [like James]. LeBron is a super athlete. But they process the same. I know it's unfair, but I'll eventually be right. People will know, like, three years from now, they'll be like, hey, yeah, Scal asaid it. If he has the same longevity, that's [amazing], I'm just giving a comparison of what he could be,” opined Scalabrine.

LeBron James on what’s in store for Cooper Flagg with the Mavericks

LeBron James also weighed in on Cooper Flagg's potential in the NBA during his "Mind the Game" podcast with Steve Nash.

James said the 18-year-old will have a golden opportunity to play and learn alongside Hall of Famers like Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving — a stark contrast to LeBron’s rookie year in Cleveland.

Praising Flagg’s skills during their last meeting at the Team USA selections ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, James said:

"You know, these guys are like they're going to give him the whole blueprint while he continues to learn what his blueprint will be, and I think that's going to be an incredible thing for him to have."

The Mavericks are projected to capture Flagg with the first pick of the NBA draft at Barclays Center on Wednesday.