With Cooper Flagg’s hot start to his second NBA season, he’s already emerged as one of the NBA’s best players.
After winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2025-26, Flagg has looked like an All-NBA contender early in 2026-27, averaging 26.8 points, 6.6 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game in his first five matchups of the season.
As Flagg has continued his ascension toward star status, however, one former Mavericks player received backlash for his comments about the rising Dallas forward.
Here’s what Charlie Villanueva said about Flagg.
MORE: Why predraft evaluations missed on Yaxel Lendeborg
Charlie Villanueva comments about Cooper Flagg
Villanueva, who played in the NBA from 2005-16 with a late Mavericks stint, was speaking on the “To The Baha” podcast with Thoe Pinson and other former NBA players when he made a comment about Flagg that resulted in some backlash.
“This might sound crazy, but I don’t think in 2026 a white dude could be — I’m gonna be real — could be the face of the league, if I’m being honest,” Villanueva said. “Because it’s a Black league, right?”
Charlie Villanueva says he doesn’t think a white dude like Cooper Flagg can be the face of the NBA in 2026 Charlie: “This might sound crazy, but I don’t think in 2026 a white dude could be, I’m gonna be real, could be the face of the league if I’m being honest” Theo: “He don’t play like a white dude though” Charlie: “Because it’s a Black league right” Theo: “What does that even mean?” Charlie: “Am I lying… majority rules” Raymond: “If you take LeBron, Steph, and KD out the league right now, just say they gone… who’s the face of the league right now?” Charlie: “It’s one of them overseas cats. Could be Wemby. It could be Luka. It could be Giannis. It could be Jokic” Thaddeus: “I don’t believe that. I’ll probably say next up is Ant” (via @ToTheBaha ft. @CVBelieve)
— dank (@cptdankkk) October 29, 2026
Later on, Villanueva doubled down on his take.
“When is the last time we’ve seen a white man be the face of the league? Don’t say Larry Bird, they had to pair him up with Magic,” Villanueva said. “When was the last time a white man was single-handedly the best player in the league?”
Villanueva then took to his own social media account to explain his comments, saying that the NBA is “70 to 75 percent Black.”
“I see the comments BUT I still don’t think some of y’all understand what I’m trying to say,” Villanueva captioned his past. “And for the record, Cooper Flagg is HIM, wanna my favorite players!”
Man, y’all been COOKING me 👨🏾🍳 😂 I see the comments BUT I still don’t think some of y’all understand what I’m trying to say. And for the record, Cooper Flagg is HIM, wanna my favorite players! We back on @ToTheBaha today and trust me we gonna talk bout it some more. 🗣️ https://t.co/KmgpHbcpcp
— Charlie Villanueva (@CVBelieve) November 2, 2026
MORE NBA:
