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Mavericks' Cooper Flagg was bound to make NBA history
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) runs back up the court during the second half against the Orlando Magic at the American Airlines Center. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Mavericks' Cooper Flagg was bound to make NBA history

By Mike J. Asti  |  Last updated Apr 4, 2026 12:34 AM ET

Even during another loss for the Dallas Mavericks, rookie Cooper Flagg continued to make his debut season historic. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2025 NBA Draft put together a performance the league had never seen before. 

On Friday night in Dallas' 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic, Flagg set a new season and career-high with 51 points in 34 minutes. And by doing so, he became the first teenager to ever reach and exceed 50 points in an NBA game. 

Flagg put up his 51 in an efficient manner, connecting on 19-of-30 shots from the field for a 63.3% shooting night. 

It took LeBron James until his third season to score 50 in a game

To put Flagg achieving his first 50-plus-point game at 19 in perspective, it took LeBron James, who entered the NBA as an 18-year-old fresh out of high school in 2023, until late in his third season at 20 to score 56 in March of 2025. 

Cooper Flagg was bound to get to 50 eventually

But while scoring 50 in an NBA game as a teenager was once unthinkable, Flagg getting there before the end of the season is also not all that surprising. He fell one single point shy back on Jan. 29, scoring 49 in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets. That 49-point game set a then record for the most by a teenager. 

Flagg has scored at least 30 points nine times and at least 40 three times in his 65 games. 

"It just speaks to who I am... and just the improvement. Grinding, getting better all year long," said Flagg about his latest historic performance.

Flagg's 51-point game answered Kon Knueppel making history of his own

And even though some can make a case for his old college teammate at Duke, Kon Knueppel, to be named Rookie of the Year instead, Flagg owns one of the most dominating seasons for a first-year player in history. 

In early March, Flagg became the second-youngest player to surpass 1,000 career points, with only James getting there at a younger age.

With averages of 20.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 47.2%, Flagg has demonstrated an ability to be the focal point for a Mavericks' team that can already envision future success once they can properly build pieces around their new face of the franchise. 

Mike J. Asti
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Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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