LeBron James defends Mavericks' polarizing Cooper Flagg gamble that's turning heads

To begin the year, the Dallas Mavericks gave Cooper Flagg a challenge that he never expected.

Jason Kidd made him the team's starting point guard despite being at his best on the wing, but this decision clearly paid off in the end — and LeBron James agrees.

LeBron James is a believer in Jason Kidd's point guard gamble

After the Los Angeles Lakers' loss to the Mavericks at the American Airlines Center over the weekend, James was asked about the similarities between his and Flagg's game. He started by praising the 19-year-old rookie before diving into why he thinks Kidd's decision to start him at point guard earlier this season was the right move.

Kidd has fearlessly defended this decision, as Flagg's development was the No. 1 story of the season, and James seems to like the results that he's seen from the Rookie of the Year favorite.

"J-Kidd early on got a little scrutinized because they started him at point guard at times," James said. "I thought that was unfair. I think it’s great to put the ball in somebody’s hands so they can just go through the rough patches. When you go through the rough patches, it allows you to grow at a rate faster than other players."

James hit the nail on the head.

Flagg's growth is undeniable

While Flagg battled some serious adversity as the team's starting point guard, he also improved significantly. His ability to handle the ball in space has only grown, and if he was going to develop into a consistent No. 1 option, he had to get better with the ball in his hands.

Kidd's choice to make him "uncomfortable" by making him play point guard helped him become much more well-rounded, and while it didn't result in wins, it has made him a stronger player. Flagg has turned into a dangerous scorer, as he can get to his spots in the paint or mid-range whenever he wants.

Without playing point guard, who knows if his dribble-drive game and confidence would be high enough for him to pull this off?

On top of his comfort when handling the ball, his increased time as a ball handler has also helped him become a better passer. Flagg is averaging 4.6 assists per game, which ranks second amongst rookies, only trailing his teammate, Ryan Nembhard.

Flagg is going to be thankful for Kidd's decision to make him handle the ball early and often, and James shared a similar story from his rookie year when talking to the media the other night.

James went through the same growing pains Flagg did

James said that Paul Silas, his coach for his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, made him play point guard right away. While this wasn't a move that many expected, it has definitely paid off now.

"My rookie year, I basically started at PG early on," James said. "He allowed me to make mistakes and play against tough defenses, and then I had to make the reads, so I see similarities in that on the basketball floor."

From that moment forward, James thrived with the ball in his hands despite it not being easy at first. Silas' tough decision to make him a point guard right away helped him turn into one of the smartest players this league has ever seen, and Mavericks fans will be hoping that Flagg continues on the right path in his development.

He has all the tools to be an offensive engine one day if his ball handling, stamina, and passing continue to grow, and while this may not be next season, since Kyrie Irving is returning, it's definitely on the way.

Mavericks fans may always be split on Kidd making Flagg play point guard despite the team being better when he's paired with a guard, but if one of the greatest players ever is backing him, there has to be some truth to it.