The Dallas Mavericks have been struggling since the start of the season. They have managed to win only six out of 21 games so far, even with the likes of Anthony Davis on the roster. Prodigal talent Cooper Flagg hasn’t been able to lead them to wins on his own, but he is showing glimpses of his brilliance here and there.
Dallas recently faced the Los Angeles Clippers and managed to return home with a win. They were coming off a loss against their rivals, the Lakers, but the story was different this time around. Flagg was the standout player of the night, and he proved to be worth all the hype.
How Did Cooper Flagg Perform vs. the Clippers?
Flagg stepped up when the Mavericks needed him the most. He put up 35 points, two assists, and eight rebounds against the Clippers on the night. The rookie had a plus/minus of -5, but that ultimately did not matter. The Mavericks walked away with a narrow 110-114 win.
🚨 HISTORY FOR COOPER FLAGG 🚨@Cooper_Flagg became the YOUNGEST PLAYER in NBA history to score 35+ points in a game in Dallas’ victory tonight!
He joins LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to have scored 30+ points in a game before turning 19 years old. pic.twitter.com/gOrGI0CPGA
— NBA (@NBA) November 30, 2025
With the 35-point game, Flagg was also able to break the legendary LeBron James’ record. The 4-time NBA champion has been the youngest player to score more than 35 points in a single game. Now, that mantle belongs to Flagg. Additionally, the Mavericks youngster also joined James as the youngest player to score more than 30 points.
After the game, Flagg said, “Being aggressive right now is obviously right for me, and that’s what Coach has stressed to me. I’ve got to be aggressive, and we’ll live with some of the mistakes, but you just have to be aggressive and trust all the work. My teammates are extremely confident in me, and I feel that. And when they’re confident in me, it enables me to just be free up there.”
It certainly appears that Flagg can lead the team, as he is proving with the team. He would have to perform under pressure on nights like these to ensure that Dallas has the chance of making it to the postseason. Jason Kidd seems to be trying Flagg out at point guard, a decision that has come under significant criticism.
Whatever the future holds for Flagg, we can be sure that he will excel in any system with time. It will be interesting to see how he can perform alongside Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis on the same roster.