The Dallas Mavericks just won the NBA Draft lottery, and now, Cooper Flagg has a chance to follow an eerily similar path to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum. Both Duke stars, both playing with a quality roster in their rookie season, both with Kyrie Irving as a star teammate.
Plus, Irving (and Gordon Hayward) both missed significant time during Tatum’s rookie season, giving the youngster plenty of time to develop throughout the season. He got some great experience, especially in the postseason. That could be a phenomenal way for Flagg to get his start in the NBA, especially as the successor to Luka Doncic.
The question is, can the Mavs make it happen?
Can Cooper Flagg be the next Jayson Tatum?
Obviously, the Mavs aren’t in an identical situation to the Celtics. Boston was one of the best teams in the league before they drafted Tatum, and they traded for Irving that same summer. They were poised to be a top contender. Dallas is not.
However, the Mavs still have plenty of talent. From Anthony Davis to Irving (when he’s back) to Dereck Lively II to PJ Washington, Dallas could have a real shot at making the Play-In in the Western Conference.
The West in 2025 is far more stacked than the East was when Tatum was coming into the league, but the fact remains that playing with a competitive team early in a player’s career can do wonders for their experience levels.
Davis alone will allow the Mavs to put up a fight in the West, and with the defense of a Davis-Flagg-Lively frontcourt, they could make some noise. Getting any sort of playoff experience would be a huge benefit to Flagg, just as it was for Tatum.
And if the Mavs can make it to the Play-In Tournament, there’s a chance that Irving could be back, allowing Flagg to be a Top-3 offensive option on a team fighting for the postseason.
Cooper Flagg has drawn Jayson Tatum comparisons
In addition to being placed in a somewhat similar position, Flagg has drawn a ton of Tatum comparisons heading into the draft. From their frame to their shot-creation to their do-it-all-type games, the two players have been thrown in the same conversations.
Flagg has also been compared to the likes of Scottie Pippen and Kawhi Leonard, meaning the Mavs may have just stumbled into a generational forward—one of the most sought-after positions in the NBA.
Not only are Tatum and Flagg similar players, but if he can help the Mavs wiggle their way into the postseason, they could have similar rookie seasons, too.
And that would bode very well for Flagg’s NBA future.