The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg put up a career-high 51 points on April 3, 2026, becoming the youngest teenager to ever reach 50 points in an NBA game as his team defeated the Washington Wizards 128-112 at the American Airlines Center.
Flagg, who had been drafted first overall in June 2025 out of Duke University at age 18, shot a spectacular 18-for-28 from the floor, 7-for-12 beyond the arc and grabbed 12 rebounds, added 5 assists and 3 blocks in 38 minutes of dominating play.
The record was previously held by LeBron James, who scored 56 points as a 19-year-old in Cleveland in 2004. It is yet another huge step forward for Dallas' efforts in their Western Conference playoffs pursuit and helps affirm Flagg as the future face of the league.
Flagg used his driving ability to get shots close to the rim, as well as his outside shooting abilities, to overwhelm Washington defensively from the second quarter on.
Cooper Flagg Drops 51 for Mavericks, Becomes First Teen to Hit 50 in NBA Game
Flagg burst into flames halfway through the second quarter when he made a corner three-pointer for his 21st point, which triggered a 22-4 Mavericks run.
Dallas head coach Jason Kidd described it as an extremely "special" game for the youngster, as he was composed under the pressure of playing on a national TV broadcast.
Meanwhile, teammate Luka Doncic contributed 28 points and 10 assists, and joked after the game: "He's a killer—welcome to the NBA."
In addition to those numbers, Flagg also poured in 16 points during the third quarter while attacking mismatches aggressively. Fans invaded the floor by flooding social media sites, with #Flagg51 becoming a global hashtag in minutes.
Flagg's Record-Breaking Performance Stats
Flagg shot 18-of-28 overall (64.3 percent), 7-of-12 on three-pointers (58.3 percent), and 8-of-9 at the charity stripe (88.9 percent).
This stat line included 51 points, 12 boards, five dimes, three swats, and two thefts, setting a new record for 50-10-5 performance by a teenager.
Flagg outscored Kuzma, who dropped 29 points, limiting Washington to under 45 percent field-goal shooting.
He broke LeBron’s record of 2004 mark and Kobe Bryant's 39 as a teen. Flagg played all 12 fourth-quarter minutes to seal the win.
Rise of Cooper Flagg in NBA and What's Next
The player from Maine excelled in high school by playing for Montverde Academy, and after leading Duke University to win a national championship as a rookie, he currently scores an average of 28.4 points per game within 51 games as the Mavericks seek the top Western conference seed.
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This teenage masterwork by Flagg announces the beginning of a new NBA era, with the Mavericks racing towards playoff success and a possible Finals appearance.
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