Cooper Flagg is making it incredibly difficult for experts to temper their expectations. The Dallas Mavericks forward recently detonated for 96 points over a two-game span against the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.
However, one analyst feels it is too soon to place the Mavericks rookie above Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum.
Nick Wright Pumps the Brakes on Cooper Flagg vs. Jayson Tatum Debate
Flagg’s rookie season has caught the limelight, with NBA analyst Colin Cowherd picking him over Tatum and saying that the 19-year-old could be the second-best player in the league, trailing only Victor Wembanyama.
“I would argue today, I would choose him over Jayson Tatum if I had to make a choice. … Over the course of a series, Tatum probably would be more consistent. He’s just older, more mature. I think Cooper Flagg has a chance to be, outside of Wemby, the best player in the league. I think he’s that good,” Cowherd said.
This is a massive endorsement for a youngster wrapping up his first professional season.
FS1 analyst Nick Wright quickly stepped in to provide a reality check, though. Wright agreed with the core premise of Flagg’s greatness, acknowledging his legitimate MVP upside, but refused to vault the teenager past a proven, championship-caliber wing just yet.
“I do not think he is going to be better than Jayson Tatum at any point in the next — call it — three seasons,” Wright said.
“If you want to say like right now, this moment, Tatum coming off the Achilles, where he’s not fully [fit], but if we’re saying Jayson Tatum at full strength next season, walks into next season one of the seven best players in the sport. Cooper Flagg, in my opinion, does not approach that until probably year four.
“… Is Cooper Flagg’s ceiling higher than Tatum’s ceiling? Probably. Because I don’t think Tatum’s ever going to win league MVP, and I think Cooper could. But I don’t think anytime soon Cooper Flagg’s going to be a consensus top-eight player in the league. And I think Tatum, when he is fully recovered from his Achilles, he will be.”
SEE ALSO: 10-Time All-Star Gets ‘Back on the (Cooper) Flagg Bandwagon’ With Kon Knueppel ROTY Snub
Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks in May 2025.
Despite the devastating injury, Tatum returned to Boston’s lineup in early March, roughly 10 months later, and has seamlessly reintegrated himself into Joe Mazzulla’s system. The Celtics boast a 13-2 record since he rejoined the rotation.
As for Flagg, the Mavericks are essentially force-feeding him on-ball reps to accelerate his processing speed. The 19-year-old is delivering impressive production, averaging 21.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists across 67 appearances.
However, he still needs to learn to manipulate defenses instead of relying on pure athleticism to overwhelm them. There’s no doubt that the Mavericks possess a generational talent in Flagg, but the likes of Tatum earned their spots through playoff maturity and sustained, two-way excellence.
Flagg is definitely coming for the throne, but he’ll have to wait his turn.
