Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg is the talk of the town this season. While Flagg started out slowly, the Duke graduate picked up pace soon after, giving fans hope of a successful future even without Luka Dončić.
Of course, Flagg — the No. 1 draft pick in 2025 — is living up to everyone’s expectations. And while the young NBA star has a long way to go before he secures his place in the league, Flagg has already begun to accumulate career milestones.
Dallas Mavericks Rookie Cooper Flagg Bags Another NBA Record
On Thursday, the Mavericks lost to the Utah Jazz.
However, despite their 116-114 loss, Flagg made a lasting impression with his stats. The 19-year-old scored 26 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists during the game, which means Flagg has the 3rd most 25/5/5 games by a teenager in NBA history.
The only other players to have more are LeBron James and Luka Dončić.
Fans were naturally hyped over Flagg. Many pointed out that the teenager is already making history and will only get better with time. Some are waiting for Flagg to post a triple-double, confident that better stats will only improve his game further.
Flagg has been focused on gaining momentum and helping his team build a roster they can trust in the long term. Additionally, Flagg might be the “most clutch” rookie in NBA history.
During the same game, Flagg also became the only player besides Denver Nuggets icon Nikola Jokić to lead his team in points (708), rebounds (243), assists (159), and steals (47).
Furthermore, he also joined Jason Kidd and Luka Dončić as the only Mavericks rookies to record 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 3+ steals in a single game.
Naturally, Flagg’s multiple records, along with his impressive stat line, have made him a prime candidate for the Rookie of the Year award.
As of now, Flagg is averaging 19.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 48% from the field.
Flagg Reacts to Surprising All-Star Voting Results
Rookie or not, Flagg is easily turning out to be a new fan favorite. He was the only rookie to gain votes, ranking above players like Devin Booker and Jimmy Butler III.
“Yeah, I feel blessed,” Flagg said in a recent interview. “Obviously, to see that is really cool. I feel really honored and really blessed just to see my name up there.”
“Yeah, I’m definitely surprised,” he continued. “Like I said, I feel really blessed and honored. I’m just going to keep trying to get better every day.”
Following their loss against the Jazz, the Mavericks — ranked 11th in the Western Conference with a 14-24 win-loss record — will face the Chicago Bulls next on Saturday, Jan. 10.
