ESPN’s Bob Myers suggested that Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg could be more impactful than Victor Wembanyama in their respective rookie seasons.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama was one of the most highly anticipated rookies to enter the league in recent years.
He was labeled as “generational,” a “once-in-a-lifetime player,” and considered an instant franchise player ahead of his first NBA season.
However, despite adding Wemby to the roster, the Spurs only managed 22 wins and missed the postseason again.
But will Dallas’ rookie Cooper Flagg be more impactful than Wembanyama in his rookie season?
ESPN’s Bob Myers believes he will.
“I’m going to say something that might be controversial: Victor Wembanyama got a lot of attention being the No. 1 pick. I could see Cooper Flagg impacting winning more than Victor did in his rookie year,” said Myers during the ESPN NBA Draft 2025 broadcast.
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First, Wemby and Flagg have different rookie season situations.
The Spurs center was joining a team in its first steps of rebuilding, and the roster is not as strong as the one Flagg is joining in Dallas.
Flagg will have Anthony Davis, eventually Kyrie Irving (injury), Klay Thompson, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and other stronger pieces than what Wemby had.
Additionally, Flagg might be able to thrive more than Wemby did in his first pro season due to the overall roster construction and not having the pressure to carry Dallas immediately.
The French big man walked away with the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year Award, and Flagg may do so as well.
But the numbers Wemby averaged in his rookie season are staggering (21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game) on a sub-.500 team, and it remains an open question if the 2025 No. 1 pick can duplicate or surpass it.