When Luka Doncic was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers last season, it caused a stir throughout the league and among Mavericks fans.
Dallas fans are still upset about the decision made by former general manager Nico Harrison. However, a few months later, the Mavericks won the first pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and selected Cooper Flagg, a Duke Blue Devils forward, as the new face of the franchise.
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Flagg has been impressive this season, averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 48.5% from the field and 29.8% from 3-point range. In his last four games, he has been on fire, averaging 37.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, while shooting 56.2% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) drives against Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) and forward Cooper Flagg (32).© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
(© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
His recent outstanding performances have elevated him in the rankings of NBA history. Flagg is ranked No. 4 for the most points per game as a teenager, with LeBron James leading the list at 21.9 points per game, followed by Carmelo Anthony at 21 and Doncic at 20.9. If Flagg, who doesn’t turn 20 until Dec. 21, maintains his impressive play, he could soon surpass Doncic and even have a chance to catch up to James.
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Flagg’s emergence has begun to soften the blow of Doncic’s departure in Dallas. While the trade remains controversial, the Mavericks’ lottery luck and Flagg’s rapid development have reshaped the conversation around the franchise’s long-term outlook. Instead of dwelling on what was lost, Dallas now finds itself focused on what it may have gained, a potential generational talent entering the league with confidence and momentum.
His place among the top teenage scorers in NBA history is more than a statistical footnote. Sharing a list with James, Anthony and Doncic puts Flagg in rare air, and his recent four-game stretch suggests his trajectory is still climbing. If his efficiency continues to improve, surpassing Doncic’s mark and even approaching James’, it becomes a realistic possibility rather than a lofty comparison.
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For the Mavericks, Flagg’s rise offers something just as valuable as production: optimism. After months of frustration and uncertainty, Dallas fans are beginning to see a new face of the franchise take shape, one capable of defining the next chapter of Mavericks basketball.
Dallas visits the San Antonio Spurs at 6 p.m. ET Saturday.
Related: Luka Doncic Injury Update Emerges on Friday
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.