Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks have been using this 2025-26 NBA season to build for the future. Flagg has been as advertised for the Mavs, leading the team in scoring at 21.1 points per game and steals per game at 1.2.
Flagg made NBA history last week by becoming the first teen to score over 50 points in a game when he scored 51 points in a 138-127 loss to Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic on Friday. On Sunday, after scoring 45 points in a 134-128 win over Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, he passed James for the most 40-point games by a teenager in NBA history.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Flagg was drafted by Dallas with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke University. He originally arrived in Durham with high expectations as the top-ranked recruit out of high school. Flagg only solidified his standing as a top prospect while at Duke, performing at an elite level for head coach Jon Scheyer. Flagg walked away with about every award he was eligible for, being named the national college basketball player of the year, a consensus first-team All-American and All-ACC first-team honors.
On Tuesday, it was reported that a former teammate of Flagg at Duke is leaving the program. Blue Devils guard Darren Harris has announced he is entering the NCAA men's transfer portal after his second season with the Blue Devils.
Harris arrived in Durham as a top-40 recruit out of high school in a loaded 2024 Duke class. Overshadowed by top performers such as current Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel and Flagg, he only appeared in 21 games for the Blue Devils, averaging 2.0 points and 1.1 rebounds in 6.1 minutes per game.
Harris played in 36 games for the Blue Devils this season, bumping his minutes average up to 9.7. He improved his scoring to 3.3 points per game while shooting 33.3% from behind the arc. The sophomore guard is hoping he finds a better home for the 2026-27 season.
"NEWS: Duke guard Darren Harris is entering the @TransferPortal, his agency THE·TEAM told @On3." On3’s Joe Tipton wrote on Instagram. "The 6-5 sophomore is a former top-40 recruit."
Flagg reacted to the announcement on Instagram, replying in support "🤞🏻💙".
The Mavericks' next game is against Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. ET.
