Cooper Flagg led the Dallas Mavericks against the Utah Jazz by 42 points to become the highest scoring player at 18 years old in NBA history. The previous record was held by LeBron James, who finished with 37 points at that age. The Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar had recorded it in December 2003 in his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The record has now been broken by the rookie forward and the No. 1 pick in last summer’s NBA Draft. However, the Mavericks star was not happy with the accomplishment, and here is the reason behind it.
Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg did not enjoy breaking LeBron James’ record
Despite Flagg’s stunning performance, the Mavericks fell short to the Jazz with a score of 133-140. The loss tempered his excitement for the accomplishment, and Flagg failed to enjoy the record. The American basketball player told the reporters:
"Obviously, we didn't win. So, it's tough for me to want to be happy or any of that. But obviously, it's a success."
Flagg’s rookie season went off to a slow start and did not go as expected. The Mavericks have also been struggling this season as they stand 12th in the Western Conference with a disappointing 10-17 record.
The Mavericks also fired their general manager, Nico Harrison, amid the struggling form of the franchise, who was also responsible for the blockbuster trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers.
Meanwhile, Flagg has been establishing himself as an NBA star. The player is coming off a National College Player of the Year award, which he won at Duke University during his freshman year. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are set to face the Detroit Pistons in their upcoming fixture of the ongoing NBA 2025-26 season.