Mavericks' Cooper Flagg Joins Jordan in Rookie Feat

Dallas star becomes second rookie ever to lead team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:18am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a basketball player's movements and skills broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color, conceptually representing the statistical dominance of Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg.A cubist interpretation of Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg's historic all-around performance, joining NBA legend Michael Jordan as the only first-year players to lead their team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals.Dallas Today

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg delivered a historic rookie season, becoming only the second player ever to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals as a first-year pro. Flagg matched the remarkable feat previously accomplished by NBA legend Michael Jordan during the 1973-74 season.

Why it matters

Flagg's all-around dominance as a rookie is an extremely rare accomplishment, with only Jordan previously achieving this level of statistical supremacy in their debut NBA campaign. It signals the arrival of a potential superstar who could shape the league for years to come.

The details

Flagg, the 5th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, averaged 21.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.1 steals per game for the Mavericks this season. He is the first rookie to post those numbers since Jordan did so for the Chicago Bulls over 50 years ago.

  • The 2025-26 NBA season was Cooper Flagg's rookie year.
  • Michael Jordan accomplished the same feat in the 1973-74 season.

The players

Cooper Flagg

A 21-year-old forward who was the 5th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and had a historic rookie season for the Dallas Mavericks.

Michael Jordan

A Hall of Fame NBA player who is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He previously accomplished the feat of leading his team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals as a rookie in the 1973-74 season.

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What they’re saying

“Cooper Flagg's rookie season is one for the ages. To match a feat only previously accomplished by Michael Jordan is simply incredible.”

— Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks Legend

“Flagg has the potential to be a generational talent. The sky is the limit for this young man.”

— Luka Dončić, Mavericks Superstar

What’s next

Flagg will look to build on his historic rookie campaign as he leads the Mavericks into the playoffs, where he will aim to help the team make a deep postseason run.

The takeaway

Cooper Flagg's all-around brilliance as a rookie has drawn comparisons to the legendary Michael Jordan, signaling the arrival of a potential NBA superstar who could dominate the league for years to come.