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Unexpected NBA rookie goes off for 40 points

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated Apr 8, 2026 12:29 AM ET

The 2025 NBA rookie class continues to show how deep its talent pool goes.

The NBA world has been buzzing about Cooper Flagg lately — and for good reason. The Dallas Mavericks wunderkind recently became the first teenager in NBA history to drop 50 points in a single game. Aside from Flagg, second pick Dylan Harper, third pick VJ Edgecombe, and fourth pick Kon Knueppel have all flashed future All-NBA talent at different points in the season.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears wanted in on the party. The 7th overall pick out of Oklahoma went off Tuesday in a game against the Utah Jazz.

Fears finished with 40 points on 17/29 shooting with 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Fears joined an elite list of players since 2000 who have scored 40 or more points before turning 20.

Teenagers to score 40+ PTS since 2000:

Cooper Flagg (4x)
LeBron James (3x)
Anthony Edwards (2x)
GG Jackson
Kevin Durant
Carmelo Anthony
JEREMIAH FEARS pic.twitter.com/RK5OJ87nV7
— Underdog (@Underdog) April 8, 2026

The efficient scoring outburst was arguably more impressive considering Fears went 1/7 from beyond the arc. Had his outside shot been falling, he could have threatened to match Flagg as the second teenager ever to score 50.

Fears was already on a bit of a tear heading into Tuesday’s 156-137 win over the Jazz, averaging 17.7 points per game over his previous 7 contests.

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

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