Cooper Flagg broke a record LeBron James set more than two decades ago in the Dallas Mavericks’ 140-133 overtime loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday.
Flagg — the No. 1 pick in last summer’s NBA Draft — scored 42 points, which is the highest scoring output from an 18-year-old in NBA history. James held the previous record with 37 points, which came in a December 2003 game with the Cleveland Cavaliers in his rookie season.
With the Mavericks trailing by 3 points in the final 15 seconds of the fourth quarter, Flagg helped tie the score with an impressive sequence. He drew a foul and made his first free throw. Then, Flagg intentionally missed his second attempt at the line. Mavericks guard Max Christie rebounded the miss, got fouled and forced overtime.
Flagg notched 40 points in regulation, and he scored two of Dallas’ 4 points in the extra period, but it was not enough to prevent his team from losing a game in which Anthony Davis was unable to play because of a left calf contusion.
Flagg did the vast majority of his damage near the basket and at the free-throw line. He shot 9-of-17 inside the lane while knocking down 15 of 20 free throws. He tallied 24 points in the first half alone. His 42 points were tied for the most a Mavericks rookie has ever scored. Mark Aguirre — Dallas’ only other No. 1 pick — also scored 42 points in a November 1981 game against the Golden State Warriors.
Flagg’s previous career high was a 35-point effort in a Mavericks win over the LA Clippers on Nov. 29.
Flagg got off to something of a slow start in the first two weeks of the regular season, when Dallas was playing him out of position at point guard. But since moving back to forward, Flagg has shown why he was widely considered the top prospect in last summer’s draft. The Newport, Maine, native gets into the lane seemingly at will. And he impacts the game in other ways besides just scoring. Monday, he had seven rebounds, six assists and two blocks.
Although it came in a loss, what Flagg did in Utah was the best performance of his young career. He became the first 18-year-old in NBA history to eclipse the 40-point mark.
Flagg will have two more chances to break his own record. The Mavericks play the Detroit Pistons on Thursday and the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.
Sunday, Flagg will celebrate his 19th birthday.