Dallas Mavericks player Cooper Flagg is in the limelight again, not for his game but for the comments Kendrick Perkins made on the “Road Trippin” podcast hosted by Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye.
There is no doubt that Flagg is the favourite to win the Rookie of the Year award and is a franchise-building block, but calling him “the white LeBron James” struck many as an exaggeration.
However, Perkins found a strong resemblance in their games. He noted that Flagg has become the focal point for both offense and defense this season, drawing a comparison to LeBron James in 2003.
“Keep the main thing the main thing. The main thing is Cooper Flagg. The white version of LeBron James, minus the athleticism,” Perkins said.
“I believe he’s leading the team in every category. There’s nothing that this man doesn’t do for this ball club.”
Despite a solid argument from the former NBA champion, none of his co-hosts took it seriously. Richard Jefferson instead argued that Luka Doncic is the true heir to LeBron, but Perkins disagreed.
“Luka doesn’t play defense. Cooper Flagg does,” he countered.
Flagg’s presence in the Dallas Mavericks seems to be the start of a legacy; he is currently averaging around 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in his rookie season. He also broke a LeBron James record after scoring 42 points in a single game against the Utah Jazz.
While Perkins’ comparison was bold, Jefferson’s comparison to Scottie Pippen was seen by many as much more realistic.
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