Cooper Flagg continues to grow by leaps and bounds. After a discreet debut, the number 1 in the Draft has been giving increasingly promising glimpses of his enormous talent, and this morning he did it like no one had ever done in the history of the NBA. At least, like no one else had done at his age.
The Mavericks player scored 42 points in their matchup against the Utah Jazz, becoming at 18 years and 359 days old the youngest player to score 40 points in a game. The forward has thus taken the record from LeBron James, who achieved it in 2004 when he was 19 years and 88 days old, which also makes this the highest score ever achieved by an 18-year-old player.
COOPER FLAGG SCORES THE MOST POINTS EVER BY AN 18-YEAR-OLD IN NBA HISTORY!!!
42 PTS (career high)
7 REB
6 AST
2 BLK pic.twitter.com/oCXzgiKiG7— NBA (@NBA) December 16, 2025
He rookiewho also added 7 rebounds and 6 assists, scored the vast majority of his baskets in the paint, where Utah’s defense found few ways to create difficulties for him. His aggressive drives became his main resource both to score and to earn trips to the line, giving him an almost inexhaustible source of points despite his mistakes from medium and long distance.
“A lot has happened since the start of the season, so I’m proud,” he admitted. “I’m feeling more and more comfortable and I’m settling in so I can be myself and let the game come to me.”
The icing was missing
And yet, Cooper Flagg couldn’t celebrate this milestone as he would like. Because despite their efforts, the Mavericks ended up falling in overtime 140-133, leaving a bittersweet feeling on their big night.
«We haven’t won, so it’s hard for me to be happy. Still, it’s obviously an achievement,” he admitted. «But I’m not very focused on those types of records. “I am more focused on working every day and continuing to improve to give the team all the victories I can.”
Dallas had the game in hand when it took a 116-124 lead with three minutes remaining, but then came a reaction from the Jazz that radically changed the game. With an 11-0 run, the locals responded perfectly and took control of the match, and although the Mavs still managed to force overtime, the dynamics of the match had already taken a definitive turn.
Because in extra time, the dominance of Will Hardy’s team was even clearer. While the Texans were falling apart, Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen culminated their respective exhibitions to reach 37 and 33 points respectively, giving their team a peaceful victory that made them jump to play-in positions. Performances that, however, were not enough to take the spotlight away from the unquestionable protagonist of the night.
(Cover photo: Rob Gray-Imagn Images)
