Kyrie Irving believes Dallas Mavericks teammate Cooper Flagg possesses some of the same qualities that helped Kevin Durant become one of the NBAs greatest players.Flagg is entering his second season after an impressive rookie campaign that saw him average 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game on his way to winning Rookie of the Year.Following Dallas preseason victory over the Houston Rockets on Sunday, Irving was asked how Flagg compares to established superstars Durant and LeBron James.I give my respect to KD and Bron, they are in their own separate categories and trajectories in their careers, Irving said, in comments shared by Ron Harrod Jr. But I would say this: I think Coop falls in line in terms of having that competitive nature at a very young age to be able to lead a team, be a complementary piece, but also lead the team, statistical categories, and I love that he is a two-way player.The praise came after Flagg recorded 14 points, four rebounds and seven assists against Houston, offering another glimpse of his potential alongside Irving.While Irving stopped short of placing Flagg in the same category as Durant and James, he highlighted the young forwards competitiveness, leadership and ability to impact both ends of the floor.Durant experienced a similarly promising introduction to the NBA after being selected second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2007 NBA Draft.The future Hall of Famer averaged 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists across 80 games during his debut season, earning Rookie of the Year honors despite Seattle finishing with a 20-62 record.Flagg also missed the playoffs during his rookie campaign but established himself as one of the leagues most exciting young players.Durant, meanwhile, continues to perform at an elite level at 38 years old.The Houston Rockets superstar averaged 26.0 points across 78 regular-season appearances last season, earning All-NBA Second Team honors while finishing fourth in total points scored.For Flagg, reaching those heights remains a long-term challenge, particularly given Durants remarkable consistency and longevity.However, with Irving already recognizing similarities in their competitive mentality, the Mavericks have plenty of reasons to be excited about their young stars future.READ MORE: Karl-Anthony Towns Makes Statement on Knicks Contract Decision
