Cooper Flagg’s January Surge: A Rookie Making History and Raising the Bar in Dallas
Another month, another milestone for Cooper Flagg.
The Dallas Mavericks’ rookie phenom just earned his third straight Western Conference Rookie of the Month award, and at this point, it’s not just a hot streak - it’s a statement. Flagg isn’t just impressing for a first-year player; he’s rewriting what’s possible for one. With each passing game, he's moving from “promising prospect” to “franchise cornerstone,” and January might have been his most convincing argument yet.
Flagg’s Offensive Evolution: Poise, Power, and Precision
When asked what’s fueling his rise, Flagg didn’t lean on clichés. He went straight to the heart of his development: control and physicality.
“My pace. Picking my spots, where I want to be on the court, playing with force, and better driving angles,” he explained. “That’s something I worked a lot on.”
It’s not just about getting buckets - it’s about getting to his spots, on his terms. That’s the difference between a talented rookie and a player who can carry a franchise. And while Flagg’s outside shooting continues to evolve, it’s his growing understanding of spacing, timing, and angles that’s unlocking the rest of his game.
Confidence, too, has been a major catalyst.
“I feel confident. I’m getting to my spots, making some shots,” he said. “When I play with confidence, with a downhill mentality and in attack mode, I think it’s really good for me and good for our team.”
That confidence isn’t just internal - it’s contagious. His teammates are feeding off it, encouraging it, and trusting him in big moments. That’s rare air for a 19-year-old.
The Numbers Back It Up
Flagg’s January was more than just eye test dominance. The numbers were loud.
In 12 games - all starts - he averaged 20.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He shot 47.8% from the field and 76.9% from the free-throw line.
He dropped 20+ points six times, cleared 30 twice, and even had a 40-point explosion. Four double-doubles.
Four games with at least 20 points, five boards, and five assists. This wasn’t just volume - it was versatility and efficiency.
And the way he closed the month? Historic.
A Night to Remember: 49 Points and a Record-Breaking Performance
On January 29 against Charlotte, Flagg delivered the kind of performance that gets etched into franchise lore.
He poured in a career-high 49 points on a blistering 20-of-29 shooting and added 10 rebounds. That wasn’t just a personal best - it was a new Mavericks rookie scoring record, breaking the mark previously held by franchise legend Mark Aguirre. Fittingly, Aguirre’s jersey was retired that same night.
Flagg also set a new NBA record for most points scored in a game by a teenager. And yet, the game had another layer of meaning - it was his first NBA matchup against Kon Knueppel, his former Duke roommate. Knueppel wasn’t just along for the ride either; he dropped a career-high 34 points of his own and sealed the win for Charlotte at the line.
“It’s incredible, and I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Flagg said after the game. “We’ll be looking back on this whole year for the rest of our lives and talking about it.”
There’s a genuine respect between the two rookies, and Flagg didn’t hold back in praising his former teammate.
“That’s my brother for life, and I’ve got really high praise for him,” he said.
Charlotte also got strong outings from Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball, while Dallas saw veteran Klay Thompson chip in 16 points off the bench. But the night belonged to the rookies - and to history.
Closing Strong in Houston
Two nights later, Flagg capped off his month with another monster performance: 34 points, a career-best 12 rebounds, and five assists in Houston. That made him the first teenager in league history to post back-to-back 30-point double-doubles. His combined 83 points over the final two games of January also set a new NBA record for a player under 20.
This wasn’t just a strong finish - it was a mic drop.
Kidd, Teammates See a Star in the Making
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd didn’t mince words when talking about Flagg’s growth.
“When you look at the way Cooper is playing here as of late, especially for the month of January, he’s answered a lot of questions,” Kidd said. “For a 19-year-old to be able to digest all of that and put up the numbers he did this past month is pretty special.”
Kidd, a former Rookie of the Year himself, knows what it takes to thrive early in the NBA. And he’s seeing it in Flagg - the ability to adjust, to absorb the grind of the schedule, and to elevate when it matters most.
Veteran big man Daniel Gafford echoed that sentiment.
“Amazing,” Gafford said. “When you put the ball in his hands, good things happen.
We trust him to take those shots at the end of the game, and the majority of the time those shots fall. … The sky’s the limit for him.”
That trust isn’t given lightly, especially in a league that rarely waits for rookies to catch up. But Flagg isn’t catching up - he’s leading.
What’s Next?
With three Rookie of the Month trophies already on the shelf, Flagg’s case for Rookie of the Year is building fast. But more importantly for Dallas, they’ve found a player who’s not just producing - he’s evolving. Each month brings new wrinkles to his game, more comfort in the system, and a deeper understanding of how to impact winning.
January was a breakthrough. Inside the Mavericks’ locker room, the message is clear: this is just the beginning. The bar keeps rising, and Cooper Flagg keeps clearing it.