LeBron James has expressed his “admiration” for Cooper Flagg’s displays after the 19-year-old racked up 45 points in the Dallas Mavericks’ 134-128 triumph on their home court over the Los Angeles Lakers this past Sunday.
The Mavericks are positioned twelfth in the Western Conference but dealt the third-ranked Lakers a second consecutive defeat, even though James countered with 30 points in response and in the absence of the injured Luka Doncic.
“He appears to relish the game,” James remarked regarding Flagg, the top overall draft selection. “He’s dedicating himself to the effort.”
“Cooper has been on a hot streak over the recent matches, but beyond that, he’s maintained a steady level of play throughout the entire year.”
Analysis: LeBron James on Cooper Flagg’s ascent
James mentioned he had followed Flagg’s progress from the forward’s time in high school in Maine to his collegiate achievements with Duke prior to joining the NBA.
“I recognized his exceptional talent from that point onward,” stated the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player. “He is simply showing continuous development.”
“I admire his contributions; I appreciate the impact he’s having on this franchise. It’s simply beneficial to entrust someone with the ball, allowing them to navigate challenging periods.”
“Experiencing difficulties enables one to develop more rapidly than other players. This is precisely what the late coach Paul Silas, may he rest in peace, provided for me at the Cleveland Cavaliers during my inaugural season in 2003.”
“I primarily played point guard from the outset, and he permitted me to commit errors and compete against formidable defensive schemes and similar situations.”
“I was required to make the necessary decisions, and I discern parallels in that… that’s what I was endeavoring to remedy. It’s wonderful to witness Flagg’s progression from the start of the season to his current form, both as an admirer of his and of the sport itself.”
Cooper Flagg: LeBron ‘a legendary figure’
Flagg and James had been “exchanging mutual admiration” when they conversed on the court following the match, the young talent clarified.
“They still have a greater portion of their season remaining than we do, and they’ll advance to the play-offs,” Flagg remarked. “So, I wish them success against whomever they encounter.”
“I was a youngster observing his entire career unfold, so, it’s exceptionally remarkable, primarily, just to watch him and witness him still accomplish the feats he performs on the court.”
“It’s a dream realized. These are the invaluable opportunities, the instances one yearns for, to compete against an individual of his caliber, considering his illustrious career.”
“He’s among the most exceptional, so it’s astonishing… I was raised observing and revering him.”
NBA outcomes: Steph Curry ‘profoundly thankful’ after Rockets vs Warriors
In other NBA news, Kevin Durant registered a match-high 31 points and assisted Alperen Sengun for the decisive basket in the final 11.1 seconds, as the Houston Rockets defeated the Golden State Warriors 117-116 at the Chase Center.
Stephen Curry netted 29 points for the Warriors, returning to play after an absence of 27 games due to a right-knee ailment.
“I felt well,” stated Curry, who played for 26 minutes and noted he progressed throughout his play.
“There was some healthy anticipation leading up to it. As a reserve player, one aims to manage their energy physically and psychologically.”
“After all the rehabilitation efforts to recover… I was certainly profoundly thankful.”
Below are the most recent NBA outcomes from the weekend concluding April 5, 2026.
| Result |
| Golden State Warriors 116-117 Houston Rockets |
| Dallas Mavericks 134-128 LA Lakers |
| Milwaukee Bucks 131-115 Memphis Grizzlies |
| Oklahoma City Thunder 146-111 Utah Jazz |
| Brooklyn Nets 121-115 Washington Wizards |
| Minnesota Timberwolves 108-122 Charlotte Hornets |
| New Orleans Pelicans 108-112 Orlando Magic |
| Boston Celtics 115-101 Toronto Raptors |
| Cleveland Cavaliers 117-108 Indiana Pacers |
| Philadelphia 76ers 93-116 Detroit Pistons |
| Chicago Bulls 110-120 Phoenix Suns |
NBA league positions, play-offs bracket: How the situation appears
Had the regular season concluded after the most recent set of contests, the Miami Heat would face the Orlando Magic, and the Toronto Raptors would square off against the Charlotte Hornets in preliminary play-off games.
The Portland Trail Blazers would confront the Golden State Warriors, and the Phoenix Suns would additionally compete against the LA Clippers in those same games.
The established initial round play-off matchups would feature the Lakers pitted against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Cleveland Cavaliers versus the Atlanta Hawks, the Rockets contending with the Denver Nuggets, and the New York Knicks facing the Philadelphia 76ers.
The most current play-off scenario and league positions are available on the official NBA website.