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For a 19-year-old who's averaging over 20 points per game in his first NBA season, it almost feels like Cooper Flagg hasn't gotten enough hype as a rookie. It might have something to do with Duke teammate Kon Knueppel having a special rookie season of his own, but Flagg made a big statement among all rookies on Friday night - and made NBA history in the process.
The Dallas Mavericks may have lost to the Orlando Magic, marking their 14th-consecutive home loss, but Flagg put on an absolute show. Flagg dropped 51 points while shooting over 63% from the field and 66.7% from three-point range. It was en epic performance; one that even the greats like Michael Jordan and LeBron James can't say they matched at the same age.
Cooper Flagg is the first teenager to score 50 points in an NBA game
The 51-point explosion marked the first time that a teenager has scored at least 50 points in an NBA game, making Flagg the youngest player ever to hit the half-century mark in a single game. Flagg's entire offensive arsenal was put to use during the performance, and the Magic simply couldn't contain him.
Unfortunately, not even Flagg's 51 points could keep the Mavericks from losing, which has become the norm in Dallas this season. The Mavs now own a 24-53 record, the sixth-worst in the entire NBA. Injuries have played a role in the team's struggles, but it's clear that a full rebuild is necessary in order to maximize Flagg's talent going forward.
Losing Luka Doncic in the way they did was detrimental to the franchise. It might have just been sheer luck, but getting Flagg out of that debacle was truly exactly what Dallas needed. Now, they must give him the help he needs.