{"id":71198,"date":"2025-12-01T06:23:16","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T06:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/71198\/"},"modified":"2025-12-01T06:23:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T06:23:16","slug":"with-historic-night-mavericks-rookie-cooper-flagg-flashes-potential-of-an-nba-superstar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/71198\/","title":{"rendered":"With historic night, Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg flashes potential of an \u2018NBA superstar\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

INGLEWOOD, Calif. \u2014 Cooper Flagg<\/a> knew exactly what his team needed as soon as it lost yet another member of the starting lineup to an injury just minutes before the national anthem.<\/p>\n

The Mavericks<\/a> needed his best scoring night since entering the NBA. And he delivered with his best.<\/p>\n

Flagg dominated on the offensive end in Saturday\u2019s win over the Los Angeles Clippers and scored a career-high 35 points to become the youngest player in NBA history to do so.<\/a> That point total also stands as the most by any rookie this season, eclipsing VJ Edgecombe\u2019s 34 points.<\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\"Dallas<\/p>\n

Mavericks<\/p>\n

Be the smartest Mavericks fan. Get the latest news.<\/p>\n

By signing up, you agree to our\u00a0Terms of Service<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an honor,\u201d Flagg said. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty cool to be in this position and I just feel blessed just to have this opportunity to be here in this league. \u2026 I have incredible teammates and coaches around me who put me in positions to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd<\/a> said Flagg set the tone from the moment the ball was tipped. He excelled in the midrange. Whether it was a pullup jumper or fadeaway, Flagg connected from early and often.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea8 HISTORY FOR COOPER FLAGG \ud83d\udea8@Cooper_Flagg<\/a> became the YOUNGEST PLAYER in NBA history to score 35+ points in a game in Dallas’ victory tonight!<\/p>\n

He joins LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to have scored 30+ points in a game before turning 19 years old. pic.twitter.com\/gOrGI0CPGA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA (@NBA) November 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

If it wasn\u2019t a dribble pullup or a layup at the rim, it was at the free throw line, where he made 9 of 11. Those freebies came in handy during the fourth quarter, when he made 7 of 8.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did it all tonight,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cHe\u2019s only 18 years old, but he seems like he\u2019s been in this league before.\u201d<\/p>\n

James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Klay Thompson each possess multiple All-Star appearances and will someday have their careers memorialized in the Hall of Fame. They all produced vintage performances Saturday, but the 18-year-old rookie inserted himself into the spotlight they\u2019ve occupied for more than a decade.<\/p>\n

As soon as Thompson sat down at the podium for his postgame news conference, he smiled at the sheet of paper that displayed the box score. Of course he was happy about his 23 points and six 3-pointers. But he was even more impressed with Flagg\u2019s assertiveness, especially on the second night of a back-to-back.<\/p>\n

\u201cCooper\u2019s upside is limitless,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cHe has every tool to be great. Sometimes I can\u2019t believe he should be a freshman in college.\u201d<\/p>\n

Klay Thompson on Cooper Flagg:<\/p>\n

\u201cCooper\u2019s upside is limitless. He has every tool to be great. Sometimes I can\u2019t believe he should be a freshman in college\u2026I might be in the last chapter of my career\u2026 and he\u2019s just beginning, so it\u2019s really cool to see that develop.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/1noXH82SBp<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) November 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Flagg is known for his versatile skill set and his ability to do anything on the court.<\/a> He can score in a variety of ways. He reached his career high without making a single 3-pointer, the area with the most room for improvement. He can defend multiple positions on or away from the ball. <\/p>\n

His athleticism was on display yet again in the third quarter when he muscled his way into the paint and threw down a two-handed slam over Ivica Zubac.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat dunk he had over Zubac was probably one of the few best dunks he\u2019s had all year, so you see his potential as an NBA superstar,\u201d Thompson said.<\/p>\n

The Mavericks haven\u2019t had the luxury of having their superstars healthy this season. Kyrie Irving, who watched Flagg\u2019s masterpiece from the bench, is recovering from ACL surgery.<\/a> Anthony Davis has missed 15 of the team\u2019s 21 games because of his left calf.<\/a><\/p>\n

Flagg\u2019s path should\u2019ve been different. He was supposed to have the on-court support of his future Hall of Fame teammates to alleviate the pressure that typically comes with being the No. 1 pick. But perhaps not having his All-Star teammates has expedited his comfort in a role he\u2019ll one day have on a nightly basis.<\/p>\n

Flagg\u2019s 68 clutch minutes lead the NBA, which tracks because Dallas played its 16th clutch game on Saturday through 21 contests. He\u2019s found himself in the NBA\u2019s most intense situations, almost on a nightly basis.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a reality he accepts, especially on nights when the Mavericks are without Irving, Davis, and in Saturday\u2019s case, P.J. Washington.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t feel any added pressure,\u201d Flagg said. \u201cI think I just feel like it\u2019s how it is. It\u2019s our team. Each individual night it could be somebody else\u2019s. … Being aggressive right now is obviously right for me and that\u2019s what coach has stressed to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flagg, who doesn\u2019t turn 19 until Dec. 21, is the youngest player on the Mavericks. Thompson, 35, is the oldest. The veteran sharpshooter has often said he wanted to mentor Flagg during what he described as \u201cthe last chapter of my career.\u201d <\/p>\n

During his postgame comments, Thompson referenced a video clip of Bryon Scott foreshadowing the greatness of the late Kobe Bryant.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not saying he\u2019s going to be Kobe, but I remember this clip of Byron Scott looking in the camera talking about how great Kobe\u2019s going to be when he was 18 years old.\u201d Thompson said. \u201cI feel like B-Scott sometimes. The old, wise veteran that has the future of the franchise to my side. It\u2019s pretty cool to be a part of and we\u2019re all going to be witnesses to what he\u2019s going to do for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flagg\u2019s career high during his lone season at Duke was 42 points, which he scored against Notre Dame on Jan. 11 of this year. Roughly 10 months later, he\u2019s found himself reaching scoring feats as an 18-year-old that only LeBron James has accomplished. Fitting since the two faced each other for the first time Friday night.<\/p>\n

Does he think of himself as a scorer?<\/p>\n

\u201cI see myself as an impact player,\u201d Flagg said. \u201cScoring is part of impacting the game. I think I can score at a high level, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flagg didn\u2019t have to admit to it with his words. His historic performance on Saturday night did enough talking.<\/p>\n

X\/Twitter: @MikeACurtis2<\/a><\/p>\n

Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here<\/a>.<\/p>\n