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Cooper Flagg Sends Strong Message on LeBron James Duel

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Apr 6, 2026 7:39 AM ET

Cooper Flagg made another strong case for Rookie of the Year honors with a dominant performance on Sunday night.

The 19-year-old continued his surge just days after scoring a career-best 51 points against the Orlando Magic. He became the first teenager in NBA history to record a 50‑point game.

Flagg carried that momentum into Dallas’ matchup with the visiting Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center. He guided the Mavericks to a 134-128 win in front of a sold‑out crowd.

Flagg also matched up at times with LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. The rookie did far more than hold his own in that duel.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball as Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) defends.© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Flagg once again displayed the complete game that convinced the Mavericks to take him first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. The former Duke Blue Devils standout torched the Lakers for 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. He shot 14‑of‑27 from the field, 2‑of‑4 from three and 15‑of‑17 from the foul line in 39 minutes.

He is also the first rookie since Allen Iverson to post 40‑point outings in consecutive games. The Hall of Famer did it five times in the 1996‑97 season.

Flagg outplayed James, who led the Lakers with 30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds. After the game, the ROTY frontrunner reflected on his night against one of basketball’s greatest players.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” Flagg told reporters. “Obviously, he’s somebody I was a little kid watching go through his whole career. It’s a dream come true. These are the moments, these are the times, to be able to match up against somebody like that, the career he’s had. It’s incredible.”

Cooper Flagg on playing against LeBron James tonight:

“I think it’s pretty cool. Obviously, he’s somebody, I was a little kid watching him go through his whole career…It’s a dream come true. These are the moments, these are the times, to be able to match up against somebody… pic.twitter.com/HfIs8efqax
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) April 6, 2026

The win improved Dallas to 25‑53. The Mavericks will miss the postseason, yet Flagg’s rapid emergence signals that the team has found its cornerstone for the future.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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