Laura Hall was born on the San Francisco Peninsula to a closeted gay dad and a straight mom during the post-WWII baby boom. She came of age during the rebellious ’60s just as the Summer of Love kicked off in San Francisco. Her award-winning memoir, “Affliction: Growing Up With a Closeted Gay Dad,” was published in 2021.

Flagg didn’t get the top spot on that list. Flagg came in at No. 9 on ESPN’s list, directly behind Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley and directly ahead of Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren.

The historical context makes the performance even more notable. Several elite players entered the NBA as teenagers, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Tracy McGrady. None recorded a game with at least 20 points, five assists, and zero turnovers before turning 19.

Lately, Cooper Flagg has gone above and beyond the call of duty. The rookie sensation for the Dallas Mavericks has been entrusted with the of starting point guard role. With that will come a certain amount of criticism as to whether the No.1 pick coming off one year at Duke has what it takes.

Cooper Flagg has been adjusting to more losses with the Dallas Mavericks than he faced in his previous four years of basketball.

The Mavericks contend that Flagg already has become a great player.

DALLAS — Early in the 2025-26 season, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd surprised many by playing 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg at the point guard position. The results were far from ideal, as Flagg — who had primarily played forward previously — did not look especially comfortable at point guard.

“I’m not saying he is Kobe, but I remember what that relationship looked like,” Thompson said about Flagg comparing him to Bryant. “Now that I’m in that position, I want to show him how much this game means to me, being out there every night.”