The Dallas Mavericks have struggled to string together wins, entering Saturday's matchup with the San Antonio Spurs on a six-game losing streak.
Yet if there's been a bright spot, it's rookie sensation Cooper Flagg, who has been dominant not just over the past few games, but all season long.
Through 47 games this season, Flagg is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, while shooting 48.5% from the field and 29.8% from three-point range.
Over his last four games, Flagg has posted 49, 34, 36, and 32 points, making NBA history in the process. The Mavericks announced Friday that he is the first rookie since Michael Jordan to record four straight games with at least 30 points and five rebounds, and the first since Allen Iverson to score 150-plus points over any four-game span.
Flagg has also received high praise from Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, who believes that, in time, the rookie will help put the team in a position to win an NBA championship.
"He's such a positive kid… It's not about his stats, it's about his teammates and about winning… He wants to win, he wants to help his team win… If he continues to do this, he's gonna put us in a position to win that championship," Kidd said.
The Mavericks drafted Flagg No. 1 overall out of Duke after he spent just one season in Durham, North Carolina, having reclassified during his high school years.
He won't turn 20 until December, which only underscores how remarkable his performance has been through the first half of his rookie season.
Newsweek