Cooper Flagg's NBA Debut Jersey Sells for Record $1M

The 19-year-old Mavericks rookie's jersey from his first game broke the record for most expensive NBA debut jersey.

Feb. 26, 2026 at 4:15pm

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Cooper Flagg's game-worn jersey from the first half of his NBA debut with the Dallas Mavericks sold privately for $1 million, breaking the record for the most expensive NBA debut jersey sold in the same season. The previous record was held by San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama's jersey from his debut game in 2023, which sold for $762,000.

Why it matters

Flagg, the top overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is seen as a rising star with the potential to become an American icon. The record-breaking sale of his debut jersey highlights the immense interest and demand for memorabilia from young, promising NBA talents.

The details

Flagg's NBA debut came against Wembanyama and the Spurs on October 22, where he collected 10 points and 10 rebounds in Dallas' 125-92 loss. Flagg, 19, leads all rookies with an average of 20.4 points per game and has also produced 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 49 games (all starts) this season. He broke the NBA record for the highest-scoring outing by a teen with a 49-point performance in a home loss to the Charlotte Hornets on January 29.

  • Flagg's NBA debut was on October 22, 2025.
  • Flagg's 49-point performance was on January 29, 2026.

The players

Cooper Flagg

A 19-year-old rookie forward for the Dallas Mavericks, selected with the top overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke.

Victor Wembanyama

A San Antonio Spurs star whose debut jersey sold for $762,000, the previous record for an NBA debut jersey.

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What they’re saying

“I think people see Flagg with the potential for an American icon.”

— Brahm Wachter, Head of modern collectibles at Sotheby's

What’s next

The most expensive jersey sold from an NBA rookie season belongs to Michael Jordan, with an autographed 1984 Chicago Bulls jersey worn during Jordan's rookie year selling for $4.2 million in March 2025. It remains to be seen if Flagg's jersey could eventually surpass that record.

The takeaway

The record-breaking sale of Cooper Flagg's NBA debut jersey highlights the immense interest and demand for memorabilia from young, promising NBA talents, with Flagg seen as a rising star with the potential to become an American icon.