Dallas — Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg vaulted back to the front of the Rookie of the Year conversation after two record-setting performances over the weekend.
The No. 1 overall pick dropped 51 points Friday, the highest single-game total ever recorded by an NBA teenager, then followed with 45 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, two steals and a block in Sunday night’s nationally televised win against the Lakers.
Sportsbooks adjusted quickly. DraftKings had listed Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel as a -300 favorite entering the weekend, with Flagg at +225. After the scoring binge, Flagg moved to -250 while Knueppel shifted to +180.
“I think it’s definitely some sort of statement,” Flagg said Sunday. “I’m confident in myself, and I know what I’m capable of. I’ll just let the rest of the stuff figure itself out.”
Historic company
Flagg now owns three of the NBA’s four 45-point outings by a teenager. He is the first rookie to post 45 points in consecutive games since Walt Bellamy accomplished the feat 64 years ago. Only six players — Bellamy, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Earl Monroe, Lew Alcindor and now Flagg — have produced at least three 45-point games during their first season; every previous member of that group won Rookie of the Year.
Coach and peer reactions
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd praised the 19-year-old’s versatility. “Being able to play different positions, being uncomfortable, never complaining — he’s delivered for us,” Kidd said. “Doing it on national television, especially after a 50-ball, isn’t easy. He wants to win, and he helped the team win tonight.”
Lakers star LeBron James, who faced Flagg on Sunday, drew parallels to his own debut campaign in Cleveland two decades ago. James noted that Kidd’s decision to use Flagg at point guard early in the season mirrored Paul Silas’ approach with the 2003-04 Cavaliers, allowing a young player to “make mistakes and grow at a faster rate.”
Season resumes
With one week left in the regular season, Flagg leads all rookies in scoring at 20.8 points per game, ranks third in rebounds (6.6) and second in assists (4.5) for a Dallas team standing 25-53. Knueppel — the No. 4 pick — tops the league with 265 made three-pointers and recently broke the rookie record in that category. He averages 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the 43-36 Hornets, who remain in contention for an automatic playoff berth.
Both first-year standouts carry strong MVP cases into the final stretch, but Flagg’s latest outburst has reshaped the betting outlook — and the spotlight — once again.
Source: Hoops Rumors
