A full-on breakout from the NBA’s teenage sensation!

Cooper Flagg’s rookie season in the NBA has become, without question, the main reason many Dallas Mavericks fans are still closely following the team during a full-scale rebuild, with attention already shifting toward what could unfold this coming summer.

With the end of the 2025–26 campaign fast approaching, the Mavericks continue to pile up losses, including their most recent home defeat against the Orlando Magic (138–127). Still, one constant bright spot has been Flagg himself, who continues to deliver standout performances and add intrigue to the Rookie of the Year race as the league’s newest rising star.

At this point, the award appears to be a two-man race between former Duke teammates Flagg and Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets. However, the Mavericks forward made a powerful statement with a performance of the highest caliber, strengthening his case despite the loss to Orlando. Flagg erupted for a career-high 51 points, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach that mark at 19 years and 103 days old.

Against the Magic, the Maine native also became just the ninth rookie in league history to score 50 points in a single game. He did so with remarkable efficiency, shooting 19 of 30 from the field, 6 of 9 from three-point range, while adding 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals in just 34 minutes on the floor.

“He should be Rookie of the Year. He’s incredible, the country isn’t seeing what we see every day,” head coach Jason Kidd said after the loss.

So far this season, the former No. 1 overall pick has averaged 20.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists across 64 games. Meanwhile, the Mavericks hold a 24–53 record, the third worst in the Western Conference and the sixth worst in the entire NBA, positioning themselves for a strong chance at another high draft pick.