Is Cooper Flagg under more pressure than LeBron James and Victor Wembanyama were in their rookie seasons?

Cooper Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks' No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, faces unprecedented rookie pressure exceeding even LeBron James and Victor Wembanyama's debuts. Hailed as the nation's top high school player two years ago, Flagg starred at Duke—winning a major college award and nearly securing a national championship—while showcasing elite scoring and multifaceted impact on the court.

Unlike typical top picks who join struggling franchises with low expectations, Flagg enters an unexpectedly competitive Mavericks environment. Dallas won 39 games last season, narrowly missed playoffs, and reached the NBA Finals just two years prior. Their draft lottery win came with a mere 1.8% probability, defying rebuilding norms for a No. 1 selection.

The pressure intensifies due to Dallas' bold offseason moves: trading 26-year-old superstar Luka Dončić after his Finals run and acquiring Anthony Davis to pair with Kyrie Irving (who will miss early games with injury). The organization expects immediate contention in 2025-26, planning to deploy Flagg as a primary ball handler without typical rookie-leeway for development struggles.

Flagg carries the implicit burden of replacing Dončić as the franchise cornerstone, amplified by comparisons to James and Wembanyama—who delivered All-Star-caliber rookie stats. At 19, he must help win games instantly while evolving into the team's new face, a challenge unmatched by predecessors who joined clearly rebuilding rosters.