Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, 19, achieved a historic feat on Friday night. The No. 1 pick in the 2025 Draft scored 51 points. He became the youngest player and only teenager in NBA history to score 50 points in a game.
Flagg’s Record-Breaking Performance
Flagg shot 19 of 30 (63.3%) from the field. The Mavericks lost to the Orlando Magic, 138-127. Flagg scored 24 fourth-quarter points, attempting to rally the Mavericks from a 30-point deficit.
Assistant coach Frank Vogel, filling in for the ejected Jason Kidd, initially took Flagg out of the game with under four minutes remaining and the team down by 17. The home crowd responded with boos, as Flagg had 45 points at the time. Flagg was then reinserted into the game, pushing his total to 51 points.
Flagg surpassed Brandon Jennings to become the youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game. Jennings scored 55 in 2009 at age 20. Flagg also became the third rookie since the ABA/NBA merger in 1976 to score 50, joining Jennings and Allen Iverson (1997).
“It’s always fun getting into that type of mode,” Flagg said after the game. “The basket feels big. Your teammates are looking out for you, helping you out. But I love to win, so that was my main focus. It’s hard for me to fully enjoy myself out there when we’re down 20, down 10, down 15 for the majority of the game.”
Three-Point Shooting Display
Flagg’s 3-point shooting stood out. The rookie made 6 of 9 from long range, his most 3s in a single game this season. It was also the most 3s he’s taken in a game this season.
His 3-point shooting is currently at 29.3% for the season. He’s only had six games this season in which he’s made more than two 3-pointers in a game. He has more games where he’s connected on zero 3-pointers (26) than he’s had games where he’s made two 3-pointers (11).
He was drilling catch-and-shoot 3s, and even more impressively, Flagg had several pull-up 3s.
Rookie of the Year Race
Flagg has topped 40 points three times this season. Only Michael Jordan (7) and Iverson (5) have more 40-point games as a rookie since the merger.
After the game, his teammates and coaches were singing his praises.
“He should be Rookie of the Year. It’s unbelievable,” Kidd said. “The country is not watching the same thing that w