Just Days from History: Cooper Flagg Nearly Missed NBA Eligibility — Will Enter Draft Only 9 Days Older Than LeBron Was in 2003
In a striking twist of fate and history, Cooper Flagg, the 6-foot-9 basketball phenom from Maine, will enter the 2025 NBA Draft at an age eerily close to one of the greatest to ever do it — LeBron James. Flagg, widely considered the top overall prospect in the 2025 class, will be just nine days older on draft night than LeBron was back in 2003 when he was selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Had Flagg been born just 11 days later, he would have been ineligible for the 2025 draft entirely, forced to wait another full year to declare under the NBA’s age eligibility rules. The rule states that a player must turn 19 during the calendar year of the draft. With a birthday just under the wire, Flagg clears that threshold — barely.
A Generational Prospect
Flagg’s high school and AAU dominance, followed by an electrifying reclassification to the Class of 2024, has seen his stock skyrocket. Playing at Montverde Academy, one of the most prestigious high school programs in the nation, Flagg turned heads with his elite two-way game, jaw-dropping athleticism, and high-IQ play. Analysts have called him “the most complete high school player since LeBron” — comparisons that feel a little less hyperbolic with this age parallel now making headlines.
What makes Flagg’s situation even more fascinating is the weight of expectations and historical symmetry. LeBron came into the league as a generational hope, and Flagg finds himself in eerily similar territory — albeit in a different era, one shaped by NIL, social media, and a shifting NBA landscape.
From Maine to the Big Stage
Hailing from the small town of Newport, Maine, Flagg’s journey has been nothing short of meteoric. After a breakout performance with Team USA in international competition and a dominating high school career, he committed to Duke University — a program synonymous with NBA talent. Now, just months after suiting up for the Blue Devils, Flagg is poised to hear his name called early in the 2025 NBA Draft.
“Cooper Flagg has the tools, the mentality, and the maturity to make an immediate impact in the league,” said one scout. “The fact that he’s coming in at essentially the same age LeBron did makes the comparison impossible to ignore — and maybe more realistic than people think.”
What If the Calendar Turned Differently?
Had Flagg’s birthday been even a couple weeks later, the entire draft class — and the league’s developmental timeline — could have looked very different. It’s a powerful reminder of how even a small detail like a birthdate can influence the direction of basketball history. While many top prospects have had to wait for their eligibility to align, Flagg’s timeline has proven both perfect and poetic.
Looking Ahead
As the 2025 NBA Draft draws closer, all eyes are on Cooper Flagg — not just because of his game, but because of what he represents. A new era. A new standard. A new hope. And in the echoes of history, another teenager is preparing to walk the same path LeBron did — almost exactly 22 years apart, and just nine days older.
Whether it’s fate, fortune, or flawless planning, one thing is clear: Cooper Flagg was born for this moment — and he arrived just in time.
