His rookie effort earned him the Rookie of the Year accolade, after he edged his former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel in voting. The race proved tighter than expected, as the sharpshooter from Charlotte shattered multiple three-point records. But Flagg’s late-season surge sealed it - he erupted for 51, 45, and 33 points in April, averaging 29.2 points per game for the month.
The Dallas Mavericks didn’t make the playoffs, so Flagg’s inaugural campaign has concluded. But he did it all for Dallas this year - at six-foot-nine, he was running the point, posting up smaller defenders, knocking down triples, dishing out assists, and making his presence felt on defense.
He finished averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 46.8% from the field and 29.5% from beyond the arc.
Earning recognition
After taking home the ROY hardware, he landed praise from the Mavericks franchise legend and one of the best players to ever play in the NBA - Dirk Nowitzki.
"Started at point guard at 6’9, something he’s never done. To me, he’s had an incredible year. He led the team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. There are only two other rookies who have ever done it. So, he had some historic numbers as a teenager, that’s the crazy thing, he’s only 19," said Nowitzki.
"Well deserved, Cooper, we’re proud of you."
Nowitzki boasts a decorated resume overflowing with success - he led the Mavericks to their one and only NBA championship in 2011, also winning the Finals MVP award, and a regular season MVP in 2007. Yet he wasn’t the best rookie in his debut season.
Flagg has joined Jason Kidd and Luka Doncic as the third Maverick to win the award. He also became the first rookie since Michael Jordan in 1984/85 to lead his team in four major categories.
"It means everything," said Flagg after winning the Rookie of the Year. "This award and this recognition are something all rookies come into the year fighting for and competing for.
"I think just the recognition means a lot to me. All the hard work, all the hours I put in throughout the year and throughout the years previous and throughout my life to get to this moment."
By securing the ROY title, Flagg made history and kept his personal award streak going. He is the first player ever to win National High School Player of the Year - both Gatorade and Naismith - then NCAA Player of the Year, followed by NBA Rookie of the Year.
For three consecutive years, he ended his season with a major award. Even more impressively, he’s still a teenager and won’t turn 20 until late December.
Paving the way
He’s 19 but plays like a veteran. He’s poised, dynamic, impactful, and makes good decisions. When Flagg arrived in Dallas - touted as a generational talent - the fanbase surrounded him with high hopes. The hype was getting louder as the season opener approached. The struggling Mavericks were desperately looking for a new hero to save the team.
Despite being 18 years old at the time, Flagg didn’t shy away; he put Dallas on his back and started carrying the franchise towards a new identity and legacy. He’s proven he belongs. Now, he’s already eyeing the next thing - winning.
His first NBA season ended a couple of weeks ago, but the phenom is already thinking about what’s next. What to improve. How to get better so he can lead Dallas to another Larry O’Brien Trophy. He said he was going to work on many different things.
"There is always room for improvement in every area of the game. I think there is a ton of growth that I can make offensively, off the dribble, and making reads at a high level. I'm excited to just get in the gym, especially with some of the guys, and continue to learn and grow in a lot of different areas," said Flagg.
His potential is glowing miles away beyond the hardwood. His head coach, Jason Kidd, has been challenging Flagg since the beginning to step up as a leader and grow his skill set. He knows his ceiling is high and credits Flagg for putting teammates first.
"He’s 19, and he’s not about awards - he’s about winning," said Kidd. "And I think he was being honest when he said he never lost this much. For him, all the great ones go through it. I believe he’s going to be a great one. He carried a heavy load for us this year. He wasn’t afraid of the challenge."
Flagg was born and raised in Newport, Maine - a town of just 3,200 people, not exactly known for producing stellar athletes. But then came Cooper, emerging early with extraordinary talent. He dominated older competition - in third grade, he regularly scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against sixth graders.
Learning from legends
Both of his parents played collegiate basketball, so maybe Cooper inherited some talent. Maybe it was his dedication and work ethic that allowed him to excel, as he was able to execute basketball drills at the age of five. Or maybe it was him lying on the living room floor in front of the TV, watching one of the greatest basketball dynasties, and learning from the best.
When Cooper was in the third grade, his parents, Ralph and Kelly, bought DVDs of the 1985/86 Boston Celtics. He would play them on loop, watching one full game after another.
Later, his parents found him watching YouTube highlights of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. But they were astonished by what kind of plays Cooper was watching - it wasn’t just scoring clips. It was Bird setting bulletproof screens. Diving for loose balls. Finding open teammates. That’s the type of player Flagg wanted to become. So, he did.
He attended Nokomis Regional High School, located about three miles from his home. He stole the show his freshman year - after averaging 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game, he became the first freshman ever to win the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year. Flagg led Nokomis to the Class A state title.
"I had never seen anyone like that," said Earl Anderson, his Maine high school coach. "Including in college basketball. And he was only 15."
After his rookie high school season, he transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, an elite sports boarding school. He continued blossoming. And of course, dominating. He had scholarship offers from every basketball powerhouse in the country. In October 2023, Flagg committed to Duke.
There was no other possible outcome than Flagg immediately taking over the Blue Devils nation. In his college debut, he tallied 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. The combo guard finished the year averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, earning a consensus First Team All-American award, while also winning the ACC Player of the Year and the earlier-mentioned National Player of the Year honors.
Last task remaining
Yet, Flagg’s lone collegiate stint ended in heartbreak. Duke danced through March Madness with ease, advancing to the Final Four. Anything but the national championship was going to be a disappointment for the heavily favored Blue Devils.
But in the semi-finals, the Houston Cougars found a recipe to outlast Duke - after storming for a comeback after erasing a 14-point deficit, they edged the Blue Devils by three points.
There was little time to dwell. Flagg’s one-and-done path was inevitable - he had long been projected as the No. 1 pick.
Shortly after the season, he declared for the draft. The rest is already history. Literally, his name has already been cemented in the historic books of basketball.
Unquestionably, more accolades await. His athleticism, versatility, and relentless motor make him a nightly highlight reel. Now, the last quest remains - bring Dallas to the winning side, return to the playoffs, and contend for the title once again.
