Much has been said about Cooper Flagg being a generational talent, and so far, he hasn’t disappointed. After a successful college career, the Dallas Mavericks forward is making history in the NBA, even breaking a long-standing record that puts him on par with
LeBron James
himself.
Flagg entered the NBA as the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, coming from the Duke Blue Devils. The rookie quickly found his rhythm, becoming a cornerstone of the Mavs.
In 26 games played, Flagg is averaging 18.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 34 minutes on the court. He has a 48.2% field goal percentage and a 25% three-point percentage.
Monday night’s game against the Utah Jazz cemented Flagg’s reputation as head coach Jason Kidd’s go-to player, while also breaking a 23-year-old LeBron James record.
Flagg proves to be a phenomenon on par with the teenage LeBron
The Mavericks rookie was unstoppable in the game played at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. In 42 minutes on the court, he grabbed seven rebounds, dished out seven assists, and scored a whopping 42 points.
Beyond averaging a point per minute, Flagg broke James’ record for the most points scored by a player 18 years old or younger in a single game.
The Lakers star set the record by scoring 37 points in 2003 against the Boston Celtics, when he was still playing with the Cavaliers. The record remained unbroken for more than two decades, until Flagg’s historic night.
James and Flagg are the only players in NBA history to score more than 24 points in a game at 18 years old or younger. Between them, they have surpassed that mark 14 times so far. However, Flagg’s numbers aren’t reflected in Dallas’ record.
The Mavericks continue to struggle despite Flagg’s talent
Flagg’s record didn’t do much for the Mavericks. Although they managed to force overtime, the team ended up losing 140-133, leaving their record at 10-17.
With this record, Dallas sits in 12th place in the Western Conference, just above the Kings (6-20), Clippers (6-20), and Pelicans (5-22), and there doesn’t seem to be a quick way out of the slump.
The Mavericks return to the court this Thursday to face the Detroit Pistons, and on Saturday, they will take on the Philadelphia 76ers. Although fans are delighted with Cooper’s records, they also expect victories, and soon.
Read the full article here
