Despite the Dallas Mavericks\u2019 138-127 home loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday, April 3, the rookie No. 1 pick had a career-best game \u2014 and made history in the process, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to have a 50-point game, according to the sports league<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Flagg, 19, earned 51 points against the Magic at the American Airlines Center, becoming \u201cthe youngest EVER to drop a 50-piece,\u201d the NBA said. He was also the first teenager to ever achieve the feat.<\/p>\n Before the Mavericks star\u2019s high-scoring game, the NBA record was previously held by Brandon Jennings, who scored 55 points as a rookie guard for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2009, per The New York Times<\/a>. Jennings, now 36, was 20 years old at the time.<\/p>\n Cooper Flagg goes for a dunk on April 3 With the 51-point game \u2014 24 of which were earned in the fourth quarter \u2014 on April 3, Flagg also became the ninth-ever rookie to have a 50-point game, according to SportsCenter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The NBA shared a locker-room clip of Flagg\u2019s teammates dousing him in water and honoring him with the game ball after his achievement.<\/p>\n Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd \u2014 who was ejected from the game on a technical foul after arguing with referees over a call involving Flagg \u2014 said that the 19-year-old NBA record holder \u201cshould be [NBA] Rookie of the Year,\u201d per the Times.<\/p>\n \u201cThe country is not watching the same thing we get to watch on a daily basis,\u201d continued Kidd, adding that the rising star is \u201cin rare air.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Cooper Flagg on April 3 The 6-foot-9-inch teen from New England, affectionately nicknamed \u201cThe Maine Event,\u201d has also played three games with 40 or more points so far this season \u2014 the most by a rookie since league legend Allen Iverson<\/a> in the 1996-97 season, according to the NBA<\/a>.<\/p>\n The teen rookie\u2019s \u201cspirit is about winning,\u201d Kidd said, per the Times. \u201cRight now, we\u2019re not. But as he just said in the locker room, we are just going to be that much better come next season.\u201d<\/p>\n The coach also said that despite the \u201cextremely high\u201d expectations on Flagg since he joined the league, he has \u201cdelivered.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Added Kidd of Flagg: \u201cHe\u2019s checked every box every time he\u2019s taken the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Cooper Flagg on April 3 Speaking with PEOPLE in December, the then-18-year-old Mavericks star said he wants to win, and he is thankful to try to do so for a franchise that has been home to legends like Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I think that it’s cool to think about being able to play at a place like this,\u201d Flagg told PEOPLE. \u201cBut for me it’s about just staying present, being in the moment and just being excited, day by day and handling business.\u201d<\/p>\n At the time, the rookie added that \u201coutside of all the craziness and everything that’s going on, it still boils down to being a kid<\/a> and, and enjoying my life in as many ways as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Cooper](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/86629bc5b62259c1e1ce7acc0423d8a7.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: Richard Rodriguez\/Getty<\/p>\n![\"Cooper](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/daa4cd18de8075a1908e5c953dd163ff.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: Glenn James\/NBAE via Getty<\/p>\n![\"Cooper](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/81c5e7a322c7d2b58035251134801107.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: Richard Rodriguez\/Getty<\/p>\n