Cooper Flagg’s rapid rise in the NBA reached another milestone Sunday night as the Dallas Mavericks rookie delivered yet another historic performance and did it against the player he grew up idolizing: LeBron James.
Flagg poured in 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in the Mavericks’ 134–128 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, marking his second straight 40-point game and continuing rookie stretches in recent memory.
The 19-year-old has now passed LeBron for the most 40-point games by a teenager and became the first rookie since Allen Iverson to record back-to-back 40-point outings.
“I was a little kid watching him go through his whole career,” he said. “Trying to match up against somebody like that… it’s incredible. It’s a dream come true.”
Even with the Mavericks already eliminated from playoff contention, Flagg approached the matchup with full intensity and LeBron responded.
The 41-year-old star finished with 30 points and 15 assists, carrying a Lakers squad missing Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves due to injuries.
When reporters asked whether Flagg’s aggressive play forced LeBron to elevate his game, the rookie gave a humble answer:
“I don’t know if it came from me,” Flagg said. “That’s just what he’s been doing all year long. It’s really impressive.”
Flagg’s performance came just two days after dropping a career-high 51 points in a loss to the Orlando Magic — his official arrival as a future face of the Mavericks franchise.
Sunday’s win also ended Dallas’ months-long drought at home. The team had not won on its own floor since Jan. 22, a stretch that frustrated players and fans alike.
“We haven’t given them a ton to be excited for,” Flagg admitted. “But hopefully now we’ll give them something to look forward to in the future.”
Dallas now hopes another strong pick paired with a healthy Kyrie Irving and a rapidly ascending Flagg will reset the team’s trajectory heading into the 2026–27 season.
Flagg’s message is clear: the future in Dallas is brighter than the standings suggest.