Mavericks Rookie Cooper Flagg Joins Elite Company with Historic Season

Flagg's all-around dominance as a first-year player draws comparisons to Michael Jordan's rookie campaign.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 5:08pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball player's movements and actions, with sharp planes of bright blue, green, and white colors representing the Dallas Mavericks' uniform. The conceptual illustration captures the raw energy and talent of a young star player.A cubist interpretation of Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg's historic all-around performance, joining the elite company of Michael Jordan.Dallas Today

In his rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks, 19-year-old Cooper Flagg led the team in total points, assists, rebounds, and steals - a feat only previously accomplished by NBA legend Michael Jordan in his 1984-85 rookie year with the Chicago Bulls. Flagg's standout performance has him in contention for Rookie of the Year alongside Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel, who set a rookie record for most 3-pointers made in a season.

Why it matters

Flagg's historic season is a bright spot for the struggling Mavericks, who traded away star players Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis in recent years. The team is now focused on rebuilding around their young phenom, who has drawn comparisons to one of the greatest players of all time in Michael Jordan.

The details

In the 2025-26 NBA season, the Mavericks finished with a 26-56 record, good for 3rd in the Southwest Division and 12th in the Western Conference. With veteran stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving no longer on the roster, the team decided to focus on developing their rookie sensation Cooper Flagg. Flagg led the Mavericks in total points (1,473), assists (316, tied with Ryan Nembhard), rebounds (466), and steals (84) - a statistical feat only previously accomplished by Michael Jordan in his rookie year with the Chicago Bulls.

  • The NBA announced Flagg's historic season in a social media post on Monday, April 14, 2026.
  • Flagg's rookie campaign took place during the 2025-26 NBA season.

The players

Cooper Flagg

A 19-year-old rookie forward for the Dallas Mavericks who led his team in total points, assists, rebounds, and steals - a feat only previously accomplished by NBA legend Michael Jordan.

Michael Jordan

The iconic Chicago Bulls guard who led the NBA in total points and his team in assists, rebounds, and steals during his 1984-85 rookie season, a statistical accomplishment that has only been matched by Cooper Flagg.

Kon Knueppel

A rookie forward for the Charlotte Hornets who set a new NBA rookie record by making 273 3-pointers, putting him in contention for Rookie of the Year alongside Cooper Flagg.

Luka Doncic

The former star player for the Dallas Mavericks who was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the 2025-26 season.

Anthony Davis

The veteran forward who was acquired by the Mavericks in the Luka Doncic trade, but was later flipped to the Washington Wizards midway through the 2025-26 season.

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What they’re saying

“What are we even waiting for anymore????”

— Dallas Mavericks

What’s next

The Mavericks currently have the seventh-best lottery odds for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft (6.8%), as they look to continue building around their young star Cooper Flagg.

The takeaway

Cooper Flagg's historic rookie season with the Mavericks has drawn comparisons to the legendary Michael Jordan, showcasing the young player's all-around talent and potential to become a superstar in the NBA. Despite the Mavericks' struggles, Flagg's performance has provided hope for the franchise's future as they look to surround him with the right pieces to compete at the highest level.