Cooper Flagg has officially ended one of the NBA's best ever runs for an 18 year old.
DALLAS - On Sunday, Dec. 21, Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg turned 19 years old, officially ending one of the best runs for an 18-year-old in NBA history.
In two of Flagg's final three games as an 18-year-old, the No. 1 overall draft pick posted 42 points against Utah and and a 23-point double-double against Detroit. The career-high scoring outburst set an NBA record for the most points scored by an 18-year-old.
That was the footnote of a scoring burst that grew exponentially once Flagg began playing his natural position as a slasher.
The Mavs' last game, a turnover-filled loss at the Philadelphia 76ers, saw Flagg score 24 points and come up just short of surpassing Kobe Bryant for second-most points scored before turning 19. LeBron James is atop the list with 625, followed by Bryant's 539 and Flagg's 526.
"Coop" also ranks second in assists (behing James), fourth in rebounds, fourth in blocks and fourth in steals for 18 year olds across NBA history. Other notable youngsters ranking high in these stats are Tracy McGrady, Dwight Howard and Jermaine O'Neal.
Even more remarkable is how Flagg is technically only supposed to be a freshman in college this season. He reclassified up a grade in high school before coming out of Montverde Academy and going one-and-done at Duke as last year's Naismith National College Player of the Year.
His already stellar defensive instincts and versatility have paired nicely with a unique scoring ability that allows him to use both hands to finish drives around the rim. Flagg also shows a keen comfort in knowing when to rise up for midrange jump shots in isolation. His 18.8 points per game - and 24 points per game over his last 10 - have come without much three-point marksman ship; the rookie is shooting just 23 percent from long range.
Above all, Mavs fans are most impressed by his maturity and competitiveness through this topsy-turvy season and new chapter of his life. He's also opened up about his new relationship with Mavs icon Dirk Nowitzki.
“I talk about a good amount of stuff with him," Flagg said after the loss in Philly. "I think, as of late especially, kinda tried to reach out a little bit more and I’m trying to grow a relationship.
"He’s just an incredible basketball mind, and such a figure here in Dallas, that I’d be dumb not to want to reach out and learn as much as I can from him, and he’s been amazing, just trying to be around for me and give me guidance in a lot of different ways ... I’m excited to continue to build our relationship.”
A word synonymous with Nowitzki's Hall-of-Fame tenure in Dallas is loyalty. It's plastered on his statue outside the AAC and oozes throughout the arena and organization where he spent a record-setting 21 seasons.
Flagg has expressed early indications of a similar sense of the word.
“Loyalty has always been a big thing for me, and I think it’s just being where my feet are," Flagg said earlier this week. "I’ve loved every minute of being here [in Dallas]. I feel like I’m living the dream.
"Everyone here in Dallas has been so amazing, so I’d be foolish not to want to be here for as long as I can, and whatever happens happens, but I’m just trying to enjoy life one day at a time and take what’s given to me and just feel really blessed.”
Mavs coach Jason Kidd, as you might expect, is gushing with the idea of coaching the generational talent for many years beyond Flagg's time as a teenager.
"We’re very fortunate to have him and we’ll treasure him at 18 and 19 all the way until he’s 55," Kidd joked after Flagg's record-breaking night against the Jazz. "Cause that's probably when he'll retire, at the age of 55."
The Mavs are off until Tuesday's final home game of the calendar year at American Airlines Center against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. That sets the table for a Christmas Day showcase at the Golden State Warriors, reuniting Klay Thompson with Splash Bro Stephen Curry in the Bay Area.