On Saturday night in Los Angeles, Cooper Flagg didn’t just show up-he announced himself. Less than 24 hours after becoming the youngest player in NBA history to dish out 10 assists in a game, the No. 1 overall pick followed that up by becoming the youngest ever to drop 35 points in a single contest. He did it at 18 years and 343 days old-five days younger than when LeBron James first hit that mark back in his rookie season.
But it wasn’t just the number that turned heads-it was how Flagg got there. Efficient, aggressive, and completely in control, Flagg went 13-of-22 from the field (59.1%), grabbed eight rebounds, and added two assists in a 114-100 win over the Clippers. He came out firing from the opening tip, pouring in 21 of his 35 points in the first half and slicing through L.A.'s defense like a hot knife through butter.
Now, let’s be real-the Clippers’ defense didn’t exactly make things difficult. Ranked 26th in defensive efficiency and now riding a four-game losing streak, their resistance was minimal.
James Harden in particular offered little resistance, and the rest of the Clippers looked more like stationary obstacles than defenders. But that doesn’t take away from what Flagg accomplished.
He saw the opening, and he attacked it with the kind of poise and purpose you don’t often see from a teenager in the NBA.
What stood out most was Flagg’s assertiveness in crunch time. With under two minutes left and the game hanging in the balance, he calmly rose up for a pull-up mid-range jumper to give the Mavericks the lead.
Then, with 45 seconds remaining, he attacked Clippers center Ivica Zubac out of a pick-and-roll, drew the foul, and knocked down both free throws to extend the lead to four. These weren’t empty-calorie stats in a blowout-they were winning plays, made in winning time.
This felt like Flagg’s first true signature game-a coming-of-age performance that could shift the trajectory of his rookie campaign. Through the early part of the season, much of the Rookie of the Year buzz had centered around Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel, who’s been consistently productive, leading all rookies in scoring (18.4 PPG), and shooting lights out from deep (41.3% from three). But over the last five games, Flagg has not only closed the gap-he’s arguably overtaken it.
During that stretch, Flagg is averaging over 20 points per game on 48.1% shooting, along with 7.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists. It’s not just the numbers-it’s the way he’s impacting the game.
After a rocky start to the season that included lineup inconsistencies and a failed experiment with D’Angelo Russell as the lead guard, the Mavericks have finally found a rotation that works. With Brandon Williams and Ryan Nembhard sharing point guard duties and Anthony Davis currently out of the lineup, the floor has opened up for Flagg to operate.
The spacing is better. The ball movement is crisper. And Flagg is thriving.
He’s also made a clear adjustment to his shot selection. While his three-point shooting is still a work in progress, he’s wisely cut back on low-percentage attempts from deep and is doing most of his damage inside the arc-where his size, touch, and footwork are giving defenders fits. He’s not forcing the issue; he’s playing within the flow, and the results speak for themselves.
Looking ahead, the integration of Davis back into the lineup will be a key storyline to monitor. Can Flagg maintain this level of production with another high-usage player back in the fold?
That’s a fair question. But if the past five games are any indication, the Mavericks may have finally unlocked the version of Flagg they envisioned when they made him the top pick.
Meanwhile, Knueppel’s situation in Charlotte is evolving. With LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller both returning to full health, there’s more competition for touches. Knueppel’s early-season surge came in large part due to injuries to those two, and while he’s still putting up strong numbers, his usage could dip as the Hornets’ offense redistributes.
So here we are-two former Duke teammates, both making strong cases for Rookie of the Year, both trending in different directions as the season unfolds. What once looked like Knueppel’s race to lose now feels like it’s wide open.
And if Flagg keeps playing like this, it might not stay open for long.