Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg becomes first teen in NBA history to score 50 points in a game

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg etched his sanction into the past books connected Friday.

Flagg, 19, became the archetypal teen successful NBA past to people implicit 50 points successful a game, scoring 51 points during the team’s 138-127 nonaccomplishment to the Orlando Magic astatine the American Airlines Center. While Flagg himself had a large game, for him, winning is his main focus.

"It’s ever amusive getting into that benignant of mode," Flagg said. "The handbasket feels big. My teammates are looking retired for you, helping you out. But I similar to win. That was my main focus. It’s hard for maine to afloat bask myself retired determination erstwhile we’re down 20, down 10, down 15, for the bulk of the game."

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Dallas Mavericks guardant Cooper Flagg watches from the seat during the 2nd 4th against the Orlando Magic astatine the American Airlines Center successful Dallas, Texas, connected April 3, 2026. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

Flagg erupted for 24 points successful the 4th fourth aft caput manager Jason Kidd and teammate Naji Marshall were ejected aft complaining astir a no-call connected the No. 1 wide prime successful the 2025 NBA Draft. Flagg appreciated the enactment from his manager and teammates.

"It’s large to see," Flagg said. "I already cognize that manager has my backmost and Naji ... I cognize helium has my backmost for definite retired there. Just seeing their emotion, seeing them combat for maine and combat for the calls. Definitely immoderate emotion, and motivated maine adjacent further."

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Dallas Mavericks caput manager Jason Kidd talks to referee Eric Lewis aft helium was ejected successful the 2nd fractional of an NBA crippled against the Orlando Magic successful Dallas, Texas, connected April 3, 2026. (Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)

The Mavericks were down 30 erstwhile Flagg started his fourth-quarter scoring barrage successful what ended up being their 14th consecutive location loss. It is the longest location losing streak since the Mavericks mislaid the archetypal 19 games astatine the since-demolished Reunion Arena successful 1993-94.

Flagg, who successful 65 games this play has averaged 20.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, is successful a heated contention with erstwhile Duke teammate and Charlotte Hornets guardant Kon Knueppel for Rookie of the Year. Kidd believes Flagg should triumph the award, comparing him to Michael Jordan.

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Dallas Mavericks guardant Cooper Flagg dunks the shot past Orlando Magic halfway Wendell Carter Jr. during the archetypal 4th astatine the American Airlines Center successful Dallas, Texas, connected April 3, 2026. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

"He should beryllium rookie of the year," Kidd said. "It’s unbelievable. The country’s not watching the aforesaid happening we get to ticker connected a regular basis. He’s successful uncommon air. He’s with the GOAT erstwhile you speech astir MJ and what helium did successful his rookie year. And arsenic a teenager, to spot what Cooper’s doing, conscionable the excitement, the joy, playing the game, triumph oregon lose, his spirit, is astir winning. Right present we’re not."

Flagg’s rookie play volition proceed erstwhile the Mavericks (24-53) big the Los Angeles Lakers (50-27) connected Sunday astatine 7:30 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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