Nico Harrison gets praise from LeBron James’ ex-teammate after Cooper Flagg wins NBA ROTY

Flagg backed that up on the court, averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while leading the Mavericks across multiple statistical categories in his debut season.

Cooper Flagg’s historic rookie season puts him in elite company

Anthony’s praise did not stop at Harrison. He also pointed directly at what makes Flagg special.

“Like you said, MJ is the only other person to do that, so when you start talking about Cooper’s ceiling and a young face of this league, in this NBA, it’s Cooper Flagg,” Melo added.

That comparison is rooted in history. Flagg became the first rookie since Michael Jordan to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals over a full season.

It’s not just about the numbers, it’s about the all-around impact. Flagg has been the focal point of the Mavericks offense while also contributing defensively and in playmaking situations.

There were debates earlier in the season about the Rookie of the Year race, but Flagg’s consistency and responsibility ultimately separated him.

Now, the focus is shifting from whether he deserved the award to what comes next. If this is the starting point, the ceiling becomes the real conversation.

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