Flagg wins rookie battle with 49-point show: “that’s the best player that’s played against us all season”
The No. 1 Draft pick left fans and players speechless after a stunning performance.
In a game that played out like a script from a coming-of-age Disney film involving actors called Brad and Zayn, rookie sensation Cooper Flagg put on a scoring masterclass.
However, this was not a film for teenagers wearing band tees, and his performance was not enough to lift the Dallas Mavericks past the Charlotte Hornets in a 123-121 thriller on Thursday.
Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, exploded for a career-high 49 points in a performance that earned widespread admiration, even from his opponents, yet ended in a narrow defeat. Welcome to the world of adult sports.
From tip-off, Flagg looked unstoppable. The 19-year-old shot 20 of 29 from the field, hit three long-range shots and also pulled down 10 rebounds in one of the most prolific scoring nights ever by an NBA rookie. His 49 points set a new benchmark for teenagers in the league.
Flagg’s winning mentality was also as on-show as his physical talents: with just under a minute left and the Mavericks trailing by two, he drilled a clutch three-pointer to tie the game at 121-121. It was his night - or was it?
Kon Knueppel, the No. 4 pick and Flagg’s former college teammate at Duke, matched flair with efficiency. He scored a career-best 34 points with eight three-pointers, including key late baskets that kept Charlotte on Flagg’s coattails.
With the score tied and time ticking down, Knueppel made the play that decided the game. He intercepted a Flagg pass after Dallas tried to free their star in the final possession, then drew a foul on the ensuing drive and sank two free throws with 4.1 seconds left. Flagg had one last chance at the buzzer, but his final shot hit the rim and bounced out, sealing the Hornets’ win.
After the buzzer sounded, a smiley Knueppel reflected on his opponent’s brilliance: “Just a crazy ending to a phenomenal game,” he said. “He was the best player on the floor tonight. Probably, I mean, that’s the best player that’s played against us all season. It’s just fun competing against the best, and obviously, being close with him, that kind of adds to the competitiveness. So, it was really fun.”
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“We’d both like to win, but we don’t talk about it,” added Knueppel. “I mean, this was a heck of a game. I think he’s probably going to jump me with 49 and 10 [rebounds], but it is what it is. An award like that is cool, but whoever gets it, I’ll be happy for him. Who knows? I’m just glad we got the win. That matters more to me than anything else.”
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