On Saturday night in Dallas, a generational torch quietly passed-at least symbolically-as LeBron James and Cooper Flagg shared the floor in a game that felt like a snapshot of the NBA’s past, present, and future all at once.
Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick and second-youngest player ever to earn that distinction, has been walking in LeBron’s shadow from the moment his name was called on draft night. That’s not hyperbole-it’s history.
The only player younger than Flagg to go first overall? LeBron himself.
And now, with each milestone Flagg hits, the comparisons grow louder, the timelines more intertwined.
Saturday night added another chapter to that story. Flagg reached 800 career points, becoming the second-fastest player in NBA history to hit that mark.
The only one to do it quicker? You guessed it-LeBron James.
Flagg’s stat line was solid: 16 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and a pair of steals. It was the kind of all-around performance that’s quickly becoming his signature. But it wasn’t enough to lift the Mavericks past the visiting Lakers, who leaned heavily on Luka Doncic’s 33 points and 11 assists to secure the win.
Doncic, of course, remains a beloved figure in Dallas. The crowd made that clear, showering him with cheers and appreciation throughout the night.
It’s a complicated kind of love-the kind that comes with admiration for what was and a tinge of regret over what could’ve been. But as much as the fans still adore Luka, this is Flagg’s team now.
And Flagg made sure to remind everyone of that with a few highlight-reel moments, including a smooth fadeaway jumper over Doncic, with LeBron watching from the paint. It was a snapshot that said plenty without a word spoken: the rookie going toe-to-toe with the icons, unafraid of the moment.
The Mavericks are still very much a work in progress. Building around a young star takes time, patience, and the right pieces.
But if Saturday night was any indication, they’ve got the kind of cornerstone every franchise dreams of. Flagg isn’t just chasing history-he’s starting to make it.
And with LeBron still on the floor to witness it, the NBA’s timeline feels more connected than ever.