Mavericks Rookie Cooper Flagg Makes More History, Youngest Ever to Score 40-Plus In a Game

Cooper Flagg was unstoppable on Monday night. The Dallas Mavericks rookie became the first 18-year-old to ever score 40 points or more in a game when he went off for 42 points in a 140-133 loss to the Utah Jazz.

Flagg, who turns 19 on Dec. 21, broke LeBron James' record — again. James scored 37 points as an 18-year-old in 2003. Flagg continues to put up a lot of firsts. A few weeks ago, he was the youngest to score 35 points in a game, and now's hit the 40-point milestone.

Here's the complete game story from Mavericks Roundtable publisher Grant Afseth.

"Obviously, we didn't win. So, it's tough for me to want to be happy, or any of that, but obviously, it's a success," said Flagg, who is averaging 17.5 points per game in his rookie year, but 25.7 in his last seven. "It's come a long way from the start of the season, so I'm proud of that fourth quarter.

"It's a new game, but I am getting more and more comfortable and just settling in, honestly, just being myself and letting the game come to me."

Flagg also had seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal in an early career performance from the No. 1 pick. He's the third teenager in NBA history with at least 40 points, five rebounds and five assists 5 in a game, joining James and Kevin Durant. 

That's some serious company.

The Mavericks, who are 10-17 on the season, have been dealing with injuries all year. A third of the way through the season, they are relying more and more on Flagg, and he's been up to the challenge. He got his 42 on Monday night despite dealing with an ankle injury. 

"I'm not really focused on a lot of that stuff,'' Flagg told reporters after the game. "I'm more just focused on being present, day to day, and trying to get better and and getting our team as many wins as we can.''

Flagg was the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after spending one year at Duke.