Cooper Flagg becomes first teenager in NBA history with 51-point game
Former Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg delivered a historic performance, becoming the first teenager in NBA history to score 51 points in a game despite the Dallas Mavericks’ 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic.
“It’s cool,” Flagg said after the game. ”I think it just speaks to who I am and the confidence I have in myself, the people around me, how much confidence they have in me, just put me in the right spots. And I think just the improvement, grinding and getting better all year long, and staying focused on myself and this team, and just trying to get better.”
Flagg is no stranger to making basketball history, as he did at Duke with the Blue Devils last year, but the NBA is a different beast, and for him to continue to find such individual success at this level is nothing short of impressive.
All season long, Flagg has been beyond impressive, averaging 20.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists a night. Those numbers in any given season would make a player the undisputed Rookie of the Year, and yet Flagg is currently projected to finish second to his former Duke teammate and roommate, Kon Knueppel.
