The No. 1 overall pick has electrified this season, but he still has a long hill to climb in earning All-Star status in his first season.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg was the only rookie to see his name on the second NBA All-Star fan-voting returns, which begs a question that has people wondering if the No. 1 overall pick will keep making history:
Can the star rookie earn enough votes to receive a spot in this year's All-Star Game?
Flagg is 16th among Western Conference peers with 236,182 votes to put himself in the rare conversation of a rookie making the star-studded lineup. Blake Griffin - the top pick in 2011 - is the last first-year player to accomplish the feat.
Just two spots behind teammate Anthony Davis in 14th standing with 269,979 votes, Flagg still has a long way to go to make the game, but through it all is remembering to be gracious of the recognition.
“I feel blessed,” Flagg told reporters this week. “Obviously, to see that is really cool. I feel really honored and really blessed just to see my name up there.”
Flagg's 18.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game - along with an array of highlight-reel finishes - have made an impression on the audience. Still, he would need to rise in the fan voting in order to get voted in automatically to the starting lineup. From there, each conference's coaching staff for the game is in charge of filling out the reserves.
But even Flagg's peers and opposing counterparts should be impressed with what the Duke product has put together recently.
His average of 23.5 points per game in December earned him back-to-back Western Conference Rookie of the Month awards, and the Mavs' frequency to play in "clutch" games has Flagg ranking among the NBA's best in clutch production.
In fact, the star rookie is the only player in the entire league to rank in the top 10 in points, rebounds and assists recorded in clutch time (under five minutes of the fourth quarter with the score within five points).
“To be on that list speaks volumes to what he’s doing right now,” said Davis. “He’s putting the league on notice that’s he’s going to be a multi-selection All-Star for a long time, whether it’s on the bench or starting.”
It's without a doubt that Flagg will join fellow rookies Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe in the annual Rising Stars Game that previews the big game and showcases the league's young talent before they officially enter into stardom.
For the meantime, Flagg may already hold that upper-echelon celebrity. We will see if it can help him chase down the group and join an esteemed crop of rookies to appear in what his coach calls the "Big Game".
“He’s going to be there no matter what,” said Dallas coach Jason Kidd, who was a 10-time All-Star along with Davis. “If he participates in the Big Game, that’s because of the work he’s put in.
"We hope that he does make the Big Game and he gets voted in. He’s playing at a high level for a young player. He’s taking on the best defender. He’s trying to help his team win. He’s been very successful in late game. Hopefully he’s in the Big Game, but he will participate in the Little Game.”
Only 45 rookies have played in the All-Star Game during their inaugural season, with Griffin being the last. Other No. 1 overall picks to do so include a list of punishing big men in Yao Ming, Tim Duncan and David Robinson.
Flagg may see a boost in minutes with Davis now out indefinitely with ligament damage in his hand. It will remain a tall task for this season, but sooner than later, Flagg's career will unfold with annual duties around this time of year while the Mavs' team is off.
“He will be a perennial All-Star," Klay Thompson said. "It’s only a matter of time."
