Saturday Night Live couldn’t resist taking a swipe at Cooper Flagg after the Dallas Mavericks rookie delivered one of the best performances of the NBA season.
During the show’s Weekend Update segment, Michael Che referenced Flagg’s 49-point explosion with a blunt punchline that quickly became viral.
“Not a great start to Black History Month,” Che said, drawing laughter from the studio audience. This shows just how quickly the 19-year-old has entered the national conversation.
SNL on Cooper Flagg's 49-point game:
"Not a great start to black history month”
pic.twitter.com/QZKNzcGdIN
— Dallas Texas TV (@DallasTexasTV) February 1, 2026
Flagg’s career night on Jan. 29 against the Charlotte Hornets was his latest highlight reel to an outstanding rookie season. The former Duke standout put up a career-high 49 points to go with 10 rebounds, three assists and a block, becoming the highest-scoring teenager in NBA history.
Flagg’s outburst was also the highest rookie scoring game since Trae Young in 2019, further added to early-season buzz around the No. 1 overall pick. His arrival with the Dallas Mavericks is already putting him in a conversation few have entered in their career.
However, earning a punchline on Saturday Night Live might be a big accomplishment, depending on who you ask.
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