The Dallas Mavericks’ top draft pick, Cooper Flagg, made history by becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 35 points, surpassing a milestone once held by LeBron James and fueling his pursuit of Rookie of the Year honors.
“I see myself as an impact player,” Flagg said after his record-setting 35-point performance on November 29 in Dallas’ 114–110 win over the Clippers.
This achievement marks the first time a rookie has scored 30 or more points in their first season since LeBron James. Both Flagg and James reached the milestone before turning 19, though Flagg narrowly edges James, with only a nine-day difference in their birthdays—22 years apart.
Raising the Flagg
Flagg’s career-high came against a Clippers team with a nearly identical record. Dallas (5–15) faced Los Angeles (5–14) on Saturday, making the victory all the more significant.
Selected first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg has carried heavy expectations as he transitioned to the professional level. The 18-year-old rookie described the adjustment period candidly, noting that NBA opponents are “stronger, quicker, and far more experienced… real ‘grown men.’”
From the season’s outset, Flagg was a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year. His historic night against the Clippers reaffirmed why scouts and analysts were so high on his potential.
“Don’t second-guess yourself, ever,” Flagg told Olympics.com, reflecting his confident approach.
Flagg’s maturity and talent have helped him meet the pressure of being the top pick, and he is steadily finding his rhythm. The one-and-done Duke forward is growing more comfortable with each game.
“I thought Cooper set the tone early when he was aggressive in getting to the rim,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “For the 38 minutes he was on the floor, he was aggressive.”
Cooper Flagg Studying Is Making the Grade
“To be able to score 35 tonight,” Kidd continued, “last night he almost had a triple-double. You’re seeing that he’s starting to understand what back-to-backs are like.”
Even in the loss to the Western Conference’s second-best team, the Los Angeles Lakers, 129–119 on Friday, Flagg showed his versatility with 13 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, and just one turnover.
“His basketball IQ is extremely high,” Kidd noted after the game against the Lakers.
As the NBA’s youngest player this season, Flagg has been under constant scrutiny, with Rookie of the Year expectations looming large. He credits learning from veteran teammates for his rapid development.
“Just listening to the voices around me like AD, [Kyrie] just being on the bench and giving me advice going down the stretch,” Flagg said, highlighting how mentorship has influenced his growth.
Dallas boasts a veteran core with decorated players, including four-time NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Klay Thompson, NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Kyrie Irving, and two-time Olympic gold medalist and NBA champion Anthony Davis.
“It’s just little things,” Flagg added about learning from his teammates. “Watching certain plays back on the bench…dissecting certain plays.”
He also emphasized how understanding spacing at the NBA level has boosted his offensive output.
“I’ve been through all this before, same thing going into college,” Flagg said after scoring 31 points in the 2025 NBA Summer League. “It’s just trusting the work and knowing what I can do.”
Looking ahead, Flagg knows that maintaining his aggressive style is key to his continued success.
“Being aggressive right now is obviously right for me, and that’s what Coach [Jason Kidd] has stressed to me,” Flagg said, currently averaging 16.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.