Cooper Flagg just etched his name into the Dallas Mavericks history books - and he’s only 19.
On Thursday night, the rookie phenom dropped 44 points, setting a new franchise record for the most points scored by a Mavericks rookie in a single game. The record-breaking moment came with 4:10 left in the fourth quarter, when Flagg hit a basket that pushed him past the previous mark of 42 - a record he had already tied earlier this season and one originally held by Mavs legend Mark Aguirre.
Talk about timing. Aguirre, whose jersey was retired earlier that same night, now passes the rookie scoring torch to Flagg - and it’s hard to imagine a more symbolic handoff.
Flagg’s performance wasn’t just a one-off explosion, either. He’s been consistently producing all season long.
Averaging somewhere between 18 and 19 points, 6 to 6.5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, Flagg is putting up numbers that very few 19-year-olds in NBA history have ever touched - especially when you factor in his efficiency. With a true shooting percentage hovering around .550, he’s not just scoring - he’s doing it efficiently, in rhythm, and within the flow of the game.
That blend of production and poise is why Flagg has surged to the top of the Rookie of the Year conversation. He’s not just the frontrunner - at this point, he’s the standard everyone else is chasing.
The Mavericks took Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and it’s already clear why. He’s not just living up to the hype - he’s redefining what we expect from a teenage rookie.
The skill, the confidence, the composure - it’s all there. And with performances like this, Flagg isn’t just turning heads.
He’s turning the page to a new chapter in Dallas basketball.
If this is what 19 looks like, the rest of the league better buckle up.