‘Needs to Continue to Keep Working’ — Cooper Flagg’s Trainer Details Why Mavericks Phenom Isn’t On LeBron James’ Level
· Yahoo Sports
Cooper Flagg enjoyed a stellar rookie year in the NBA, and his performances even drew comparisons to LeBron James.
\nHowever, his longtime trainer has downplayed those expectations, claiming that the Dallas Mavericks star still has a long way to go.
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\nCooper Flagg’s Trainer Downplays LeBron James Comparisons
\nFlagg arrived in Dallas after a remarkable season with the Duke Blue Devils. The Mavericks were still reeling from the shocking Luka Dončić trade, but Flagg quickly picked up the mantle and showed exactly why he is regarded as the next big thing in basketball.
\nThe 6-foot-9 forward averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists during his rookie year with the Mavericks, while shooting 46.8% from the field. His historic run included him becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 50-plus points in a game. He also broke James’ record for most 40-point games by a teenager in NBA history.
\nFlagg’s performances led former Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd to claim that Flagg is “on pace” to follow in James’ footsteps.
\nHowever, Flagg’s trainer, Matt MacKenzie, has pushed back on those comparisons. MacKenzie believes that Flagg has the tools to be ‘one of the greats,’ but was quick to temper expectations.
\n“Cooper has a long way to go in terms of building the résumé that LeBron has throughout his long career. But he definitely has a lot of those tools to be one of the greats. He just needs to continue to keep working,” MacKenzie told RG.org.
\n“I think with the way he plays and his approach to the game of basketball, that checks all of the boxes to be one of the greats eventually. But obviously, he’s only one year into his career now. He’s got a long way to go,” he added.
\nMacKenzie further noted that Flagg is determined to bring success back to Dallas, 15 years after the franchise’s first and only NBA championship.
\n“Ultimately, he wants to help the Mavs get to the point where they’re a playoff team, and they can contend. So I think that’s of the utmost importance for him,” MacKenzie said.
\n\nFlagg’s dynamic, high-IQ play and two-way skills were on full display last season. This year, the expectations will be even loftier, with Kyrie Irving set to return from his ACL injury and Dusty May installed as the new head coach fresh off Michigan’s NCAA Tournament triumph.
\nAll eyes will be on Flagg as he looks to take the next leap in his career and establish himself as a bona fide star in the NBA.
\nThis article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.