Cooper Flagg has found his footing in the NBA — just ask the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac, who ended up on the wrong end of a Flagg poster on Saturday night.
Flagg was racking up buckets against the Clippers, scoring 35 points on the night — he leapfrogged LeBron James to become the youngest player in NBA history to drop 35 in an NBA game (only Flagg and LeBron have done so before turning 19).
🚨 HISTORY FOR COOPER FLAGG 🚨@Cooper_Flagg became the YOUNGEST PLAYER in NBA history to score 35+ points in a game in Dallas' victory tonight!
He joins LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to have scored 30+ points in a game before turning 19 years old. pic.twitter.com/gOrGI0CPGA
— NBA (@NBA) November 30, 2025
It became a story around the league when Flagg didn’t come roaring out of the gate this season — he looked like a rookie trying to find his way in the league. It was in part because coach Jason Kidd asked Flagg to play out of position as a point forward and initiate the offense, which is a lot to ask of a player adjusting to the speed and complexities of the NBA game. In his first 10 games, Flagg averaged 13.9 points per game on 40.3% shooting. However, moved to his natural spot on the wing of late, Flagg has started to look like the clear No. 1 pick he was, averaging 20.2 points a game on 48.1% shooting.
Flagg’s 35 lifted the Mavericks to a road win over the scuffling Clippers.