Stephen Jackson cautions against premature comparisons of Cooper Flagg to Larry Bird, emphasizing the legend's unmatched legacy while acknowledging the rookie's immense potential.
In the ever-evolving landscape of the NBA, comparisons between rising stars and all-time greats are as inevitable as trades and buzzer-beaters.
Recently, when conversations turned to comparing Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks to Celtics legend Larry Bird, former NBA standout Stephen Jackson didn’t hold back on his thoughts.
Jackson recently appeared on the "All the Smoke" podcast, and he gave his opinion on some comparing the Mavs rookie to a player who many consider to be as high as top 10 in NBA history.
"Cooper is nowhere close to that," Jackson said. "Not right now. He’s the Rookie of the Year and all that. He’s the best player that the Mavericks have. I give him all that. His ceiling is the sky is the limit. But Larry Bird, Nah."
For Mavericks fans, it’s an interesting moment: Flagg has burst onto the scene with a level of poise and production rarely seen from an 19-year-old. He’s averaging eye-opening numbers that speak to his versatility — scoring, rebounding, facilitating, and defending at a young age — and rapidly becoming the face of Dallas’ next era.
But even in the face of those early accolades, Jackson’s message is grounded in respect for the history of the game.
The context of Jackson’s remarks came from a conversation where media figures pointed to Bird’s iconic status — including legendary feats like his memorable 1986 performance where he dominated an opponent while even switching hands mid-game. Bird’s résumé includes MVPs, championships, and a Hall-of-Fame career that casts a long shadow over any modern comparison.
Jackson didn’t dismiss Flagg’s potential — far from it. He praised the rookie as the Mavericks’ best player and hinted that his ceiling could be sky-high. But Bird’s stature in NBA lore is entrenched, and Jackson made it clear that Flagg has much work ahead before he can be discussed in the same breath.
Flagg’s emergence as a cornerstone talent has sparked nationwide conversation. Whether he’ll eventually ascend into the pantheon of all-time greats remains to be seen.
For now, Jackson’s statement serves as both a wake-up call and a sign of respect — reminding fans that while Flagg’s star is rising, legendary comparisons are earned over time.