Cooper Flagg has been on a tear the past few games for the Dallas Mavericks. The 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year frontrunner has scored 96 points in his last two contests. He followed up on his 51-point performance against the Orlando Magic on Friday with a 45-point outing to beat the Los Angeles Lakers two days later.
Despite Flagg’s impressive rookie season, the Mavericks currently sit at the 12th spot in the Western Conference with a 25-53 record. Dallas has been eliminated from playoff contention, and they now have time to sit back and prepare for next year.
The former Duke Blue Devils star is averaging 21.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals a game. Flagg has started all 66 games he has played in this season. The 6-foot-9 small forward is looking to finish the season strong for the Mavs.
During his postgame interview of their win against the Lakers, Flagg was asked about what he’ll remember most about this season. Instead of highlighting his awe-inspiring performances, the 19-year-old took a different approach.
“I think the losing…It’s a terrible feeling,” Flagg answered. “It’s not fun to lose so many games, so I just think taking that and using that as motivation all summer long and getting ready for another season.”
Flagg will look to build on his hot streak in the last four games of the season, while also looking forward to the future.
Dallas has a chance to be a formidable team next season. With Flagg’s development, Kyrie Irving’s potential return and some key players coming back from injury, the Mavs have a promising core to build on.
