Every now and then, Max Kellerman shares his passionate endorsement of the Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg. The sports commentator recently offered another strong assessment of the 19-year-old, explaining why his impact is difficult to define through one standout skill.

Kellerman compared Flagg with some of the NBA's biggest stars, pointing out how each has a signature quality that immediately comes to mind. He believes Flagg is different because he can hurt opponents in several ways rather than relying on one dominant trait.

“LeBron is Magic plus, plus Michael. Then you have Steph, oh my God, he can shoot. Shaq… he's the biggest, strongest guy. Wemby's freakishly tall. And Cooper doesn't have any one single thing like that. He'll just kill you a million different ways,” Kellerman said.

Max Kellerman on Cooper Flagg:

“LeBron is Magic plus, plus Michael. Then you have Steph, oh my God, he can shoot. Shaq… he's the biggest, strongest guy. Wemby's freakishly tall. And Cooper doesn't have any one single thing like that. He'll just kill you a million different…

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 31, 2026

The analyst also described Flagg as the best 19-year-old player since LeBron James. He specifically appreciated the Mavericks forward's defense and free-throw shooting, saying Flagg was ahead of James in both areas at the same age.

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Flagg's early production in the 2026-27 season helps to understand why Kellerman is so enthusiastic about him. Through five games, the forward is averaging 26.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists while shooting 55.7% from the field and 85.3% at the free-throw line. He is also recording 2.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.

Those numbers follow an impressive rookie campaign. Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists across 70 games in 2025-26, earning Rookie of the Year honors. He shot 46.8% from the field and 82.7% at the free-throw line.

His three-point shooting remains an area for improvement. Flagg is connecting on 26.9% of his attempts from beyond the arc this season, but his overall production has helped Dallas get off to a 4-2 start.