Teenage Phenom Cooper Flagg Scores Career-High 49 Points

Flagg's historic performance comes in reunion with former teammate Kon Knueppel

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:07pm

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Cooper Flagg, a teenage basketball prodigy, scored a career-high 49 points in a game against the Charlotte Hornets, becoming the youngest NBA player to ever reach that scoring milestone. Flagg's historic performance came in a reunion with his former teammate Kon Knueppel.

Why it matters

Flagg's unprecedented scoring outburst at such a young age has drawn widespread attention and excitement, further cementing his status as one of the most promising young talents in the NBA. The matchup with Knueppel, his former teammate, added an intriguing personal storyline to the game.

The details

Flagg, who is just 19 years old, surpassed the previous record for most points scored by an NBA player under the age of 20. His 49-point explosion came against the Charlotte Hornets, where he faced off against his former teammate Kon Knueppel.

  • The game took place on January 30, 2026.

The players

Cooper Flagg

A 19-year-old basketball prodigy who currently plays in the NBA.

Kon Knueppel

Flagg's former teammate who now plays for the Charlotte Hornets.

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What they’re saying

“No NBA player younger than Cooper Flagg has scored more points than Flagg did on Thursday.”

— Jack Baer, Staff writer

The takeaway

Cooper Flagg's historic 49-point performance, at just 19 years old, has cemented his status as one of the most exciting young talents in the NBA and has fans eagerly anticipating his continued development and future achievements.