NBA Champion obliterates Mavericks fans' major Flagg fear with bold LeBron comparison

In just a week from now, the best 18-year-old basketball player on the planet will be joining the Dallas Mavericks. With Kyrie Irving out at least until 2026, it looks like Cooper Flagg might be one of the main ball handlers to help get the ball to Anthony Davis and take pressure off his shoulders. That is, if the Mavericks don't make a trade in the offseason, or make a trade on draft night to grab someone like Walter Clayton Jr. from Florida.

Flagg has been compared to some pretty prominent NBA names during the pre-draft process, but one NBA champion has Flagg in the same sentence as LeBron James.

Brian Scalabrine, now a Boston Celtics analyst for NBC Sports Boston, has been in the NBA media since his retirement, and while Flagg has gotten comparisons to other NBA players, it seems like those in the media, like Tony Allen and Carmelo Anthony, are still downplaying his talents.

Scalabrine doesn't hold back with boldest Cooper Flagg comparison yet

The next big thing in the NBA is Flagg, but it seems like other players aren't on board with that. Allen, who's a former First-Team All-Defensive team player, once mentioned that Flagg's ceiling is Andrei Kirilenko, and not anyone above that. Scalabrine is one who does not beat around the bush, and got the chance on the "Dan Patrick Show" to say why Mavs fans should be extremely hyped about Flagg.

"I think it's LeBron James without having to be 260 pounds and like a freight train. Cooper Flagg is a supercomputer," Scalabrine said. "Everything you tell him, within 24 hours, he's figured it out."

Scalabrine mentioned how he once worked out with Flagg in Maine, and he was shocked about how fast Flagg was able to adjust. Scalabrine simply told Flagg that he had no more to teach him.

"It just got to a point where I couldn't help him anymore, he was too good. He would just pick things up," Scalabrine said. "Workouts are supposed to be challenging and you're supposed to push guys to do something better... He just kept mastering every single thing... I've never met someone that just can pick up things at such a high rate."

This confirms what we all thought about Flagg. He truly is one of the best prospects of any generation. He truly could be the next James, Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, or Magic Johnson-type of player who changes the game forever.

Of course, no one is saying that Kirilenko was an irrelevant player. After all, he was a two-way player who could score effectively and anger his opponent playing defense, which included a mini rivalry he developed with Dirk Nowitzki. Kirilenko just didn't have all the same hype as Flagg. In the age where high school players like Flagg are practicing on the USA men's basketball team, there seems to be a higher ceiling for Flagg than just Kirilenko.

With Mavericks fans prepared to see arguably the most anticipated draft pick in franchise history, it's pretty safe to say now that Flagg is going to be a Maverick. Hopefully, the organization won't abandon him like they once did with Luka Doncic. If not, Flagg is truly going to be the next face of the Mavericks, and just maybe, the next face of the NBA.