Mavericks Rookie Cooper Flagg Becomes First Teen to Score 50 in NBA Game

19-year-old Flagg sets new record in loss to Magic, drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan's rookie season.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 3:21pm

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Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, 19, made NBA history on Friday by becoming the first teenager to score over 50 points in a game, pouring in 51 points in a 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic. Despite the defeat, Flagg's impressive performance drew praise from head coach Jason Kidd, who compared the young star to Michael Jordan.

Why it matters

Flagg's historic 50-point game as a teenager is a remarkable achievement that showcases his immense talent and potential. As the Mavericks continue to struggle, Flagg's breakout performance highlights his case for Rookie of the Year in a tight race with former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel.

The details

Flagg erupted for 24 points in the fourth quarter after Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd and teammate Naji Marshall were ejected for arguing a no-call. Despite the Mavericks being down by as much as 30 points, Flagg's scoring barrage in the final period made him the first teenager in NBA history to score over 50 points in a game.

  • Flagg's historic 51-point game occurred on Friday, April 4, 2026.
  • The Mavericks' loss to the Magic was their 14th consecutive home defeat, the team's longest home losing streak since the 1993-94 season.

The players

Cooper Flagg

A 19-year-old rookie forward for the Dallas Mavericks who made NBA history by becoming the first teenager to score over 50 points in a game.

Jason Kidd

The head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, who praised Flagg's performance and compared him to NBA legend Michael Jordan.

Kon Knueppel

A rookie forward for the Charlotte Hornets who is in a tight race with Flagg for the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

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What they’re saying

“It's always fun getting into that type of mode. The basket feels big. My teammates are looking out for you, helping you out. But I like to win. That was my main focus. It's hard for me to fully enjoy myself out there when we're down 20, down 10, down 15, for the majority of the game.”

— Cooper Flagg, Mavericks Rookie

“He should be rookie of the year. It's unbelievable. The country's not watching the same thing we get to watch on a daily basis. He's in rare air. He's with the GOAT when you talk about MJ and what he did in his rookie year. And as a teenager, to see what Cooper's doing, just the excitement, the joy, playing the game, win or lose, his spirit, is about winning. Right now we're not.”

— Jason Kidd, Mavericks Head Coach

What’s next

The Mavericks will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, April 6, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET, as Flagg looks to continue his impressive rookie campaign.

The takeaway

Cooper Flagg's historic 50-point game as a teenager is a remarkable achievement that showcases his immense talent and potential. As the Mavericks struggle, Flagg's breakout performance highlights his case for Rookie of the Year in a tight race with former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel, and has drawn comparisons to the legendary rookie season of Michael Jordan.