Cooper Flagg has drawn comparisons to LeBron James since entering the NBA, but ESPN’s Brian Windhorst believes the Dallas Mavericks forward already has an advantage over James in one area of the game.

Windhorst isn’t suggesting Flagg is the better overall player. He believes the 19-year-old is more advanced defensively than James was at the same age, a position he recently defended after making the comparison earlier in the week.

Brian Windhorst Hails Cooper Flagg as a Better Defender Than LeBron James at 19

On Friday’s episode of ESPN’s “Hoop Collective” podcast, Windhorst reaffirmed his assessment of Flagg’s defensive ability.

“In my view, Cooper is better at defense than LeBron was at the same age. I don’t even think it’s debatable,” Windhorst said.

“There were defensive plays LeBron made at that age. He certainly would get into passing lanes, he certainly would block shots, he was a defensive playmaker, but Cooper is better defensively, empirically; I don’t think that’s debatable.”

Windhorst had made a similar argument Wednesday while speaking with ESPN’s Bobby Marks on the same podcast, pointing specifically to Flagg’s positional versatility.

“Cooper Flagg’s a better defender than LeBron at 19. Cooper Flagg’s got a better fundamental jump shot at 19. Cooper Flagg is more positionally versatile defensively at age 19. There’s a lot of check marks on that slider.”

Flagg’s early numbers this season provide some context for Windhorst’s assessment. Through his first four games, the Mavericks forward averaged 2.8 steals and 5.3 defensive rebounds per game. James averaged 1.6 steals and 4.2 defensive rebounds during his 2003-04 rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

According to StatMuse, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft also had a 104.5 defensive rating through those four games, matching James’ 104.5 mark during his rookie campaign.

The comparison has its limits. Flagg’s numbers cover just 4 games, while James’ averages span an entire rookie season. Defensive rating also reflects team performance and lineups, so the identical figures don’t necessarily indicate equal individual defensive ability.

Windhorst’s argument, however, goes beyond those numbers. He specifically pointed to the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year’s defensive ability and believes the Mavericks forward was more advanced in that area than James at the same age.

The former Duke star is still early in his sophomore season, and his first four games offer only a limited look at his development. Windhorst has nevertheless made his position clear twice this week: he considers Flagg the better defender at 19, particularly for his ability to handle a range of defensive assignments.