Mavericks' Cooper Flagg joins LeBron James in exclusive NBA history
History has a way of rhyming in the NBA, and on Saturday night at the American Airlines Center, the verses of two generations synchronized. In a high-profile clash between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers, rookie sensation Cooper Flagg didn’t just share the court with LeBron James—he joined him in a statistical stratum reserved for the game’s chosen few.
Despite the Mavericks falling 116-110 in a contest charged with emotional narratives—including the return of former Dallas superstar Luka Dončić in Lakers purple and gold—Flagg’s individual brilliance stole the headline. The 18-year-old forward finished the night with 16 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals. In doing so, Flagg eclipsed the 800-point mark for his young career, becoming the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach that milestone. The only player to achieve the feat at a younger age? The very man standing across from him: LeBron James.
The moment served as a symbolic intersection of the league’s past and future. Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has shouldered the immense burden of being the Mavericks' new franchise cornerstone following the roster upheaval that sent Dončić to Los Angeles. While the loss dropped Dallas further in the standings, Flagg’s trajectory offers a silver lining that is blindingly bright.
Throughout his rookie campaign, Flagg has displayed a two-way versatility that defies his age, averaging numbers that mirror the early days of the King himself. Joining James in this exclusive "under-19" club validates the pre-draft hype that touted Flagg as a generational prospect. It is rare for a teenager to possess the scoring gravity required to hit 800 points by January, let alone the durability to stay on the floor to do it.
For the Mavericks, the result was a reminder of the rebuilding road ahead, but the record is a signpost that they are driving in the right direction. James may have left Dallas with the win, but Flagg left the arena having proved that he belongs in the same sentence as the greatest to ever play the game.
Despite the Mavericks falling 116-110 in a contest charged with emotional narratives—including the return of former Dallas superstar Luka Dončić in Lakers purple and gold—Flagg’s individual brilliance stole the headline. The 18-year-old forward finished the night with 16 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals. In doing so, Flagg eclipsed the 800-point mark for his young career, becoming the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach that milestone. The only player to achieve the feat at a younger age? The very man standing across from him: LeBron James.
The moment served as a symbolic intersection of the league’s past and future. Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has shouldered the immense burden of being the Mavericks' new franchise cornerstone following the roster upheaval that sent Dončić to Los Angeles. While the loss dropped Dallas further in the standings, Flagg’s trajectory offers a silver lining that is blindingly bright.
Throughout his rookie campaign, Flagg has displayed a two-way versatility that defies his age, averaging numbers that mirror the early days of the King himself. Joining James in this exclusive "under-19" club validates the pre-draft hype that touted Flagg as a generational prospect. It is rare for a teenager to possess the scoring gravity required to hit 800 points by January, let alone the durability to stay on the floor to do it.
For the Mavericks, the result was a reminder of the rebuilding road ahead, but the record is a signpost that they are driving in the right direction. James may have left Dallas with the win, but Flagg left the arena having proved that he belongs in the same sentence as the greatest to ever play the game.
