Cooper Flagg delivered a historic scoring performance but found little joy in the achievement after it came in a loss.
The 18-year-old rookie poured in 42 points — the most ever by an 18-year-old in NBA history — as the Dallas Mavericks were beaten 140-133 by the Utah Jazz in overtime on Tuesday morning (Malaysia time). Flagg eclipsed the previous record of 37 points set by LeBron James on Dec. 13, 2003.
“Obviously, we didn’t win, so it’s hard to really feel happy about it,” Flagg said after the game, speaking with a bag of ice on his ankle after rolling it late in regulation. “But it’s still something positive.”
Flagg, who turns 19 on Sunday, added seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal in one of the most complete performances of his young career. The No. 1 overall pick became just the third teenager in NBA history to record at least 40 points, five rebounds and five assists, joining Kevin Durant and James.
“The more minutes he plays, the more he understands the game,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “He showed everything tonight.”
Flagg has found his rhythm in recent weeks, averaging 25.7 points over his last seven games. His assertive approach was evident at the free-throw line, where he converted 15 of 20 attempts against Utah.
“I’ve come a long way since the start of the season,” Flagg said. “I’m getting more comfortable, learning the game, and just letting things come naturally.”
He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and made a heads-up play late in regulation by intentionally missing a free throw, allowing teammate Max Christie to grab the rebound and draw a foul with 3.9 seconds remaining.
With Anthony Davis sidelined and several other Mavericks out injured, Flagg has increasingly become the focal point of Dallas’ offense.
“We kept going to Coop because he was cooking all game,” P.J. Washington said. “It doesn’t surprise me at all. He’s special, and there’s a lot more coming.”
Flagg also tied Mark Aguirre for the most points by a rookie in franchise history. Still, the rookie forward was more focused on missed opportunities than records, especially after Utah closed regulation on an 11-0 run and controlled overtime, where Flagg did not score a field goal.
“I’ve got to be better,” Flagg said. “I made some mistakes late, missed some easy ones. I have to execute better in those moments.”
While the individual accolades continue to mount, Flagg emphasized that his priority remains growth and winning.
“I’m not really thinking about records,” he said. “I’m just trying to stay present, improve every day, and help our team win as many games as possible.”
