Imagine a teenager dominating the NBA, shattering records left and right, and leaving fans in awe. That's exactly what Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, is doing. But here's where it gets even more impressive: at just 19 years old, Flagg is already etching his name into the history books, rubbing shoulders with legends like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. And this is the part most people miss: Flagg isn't just performing well for a rookie; he's outpacing some of the greatest players of all time at the same age.
Through 29 games, Flagg is averaging a staggering 18.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game, consistently topping the NBA.com Kia Rookie Ladder. What's even more remarkable? He reclassified to the 2024 draft class in the summer of 2023, making him the youngest player in the league. As he celebrates his 19th birthday, let's dive into the records he's already broken among 18-year-olds, verified by Elias Sports Bureau.
Points: Flagg ranks 3rd all-time with 526 points, trailing only LeBron James (625) and Kobe Bryant (539), but surpassing Tracy McGrady (451).
Rebounds: He sits 4th with 178 rebounds, behind Bill Willoughby (288), McGrady (269), and James (184), but ahead of Dwight Howard (177).
Assists: Flagg is 2nd with 99 assists, just behind James (188), and ahead of McGrady (98) and Bryant (91).
Steals: He ranks 5th with 35 steals, trailing McGrady, James, and Bryant (49 each) and Willoughby (37).
Three-Pointers Made: Flagg is 3rd with 22, behind Bryant (51) and James (32).
Minutes Played: He’s 4th with 962 minutes, trailing only James (1,247), McGrady (1,179), and Bryant (1,103).
Double-Doubles: Flagg is tied for 2nd with James and Willoughby (4), behind only Howard (6).
20-Point Games: He’s 2nd with 12, just behind James (14).
30-Point Games: Flagg is 2nd with 2, again trailing James (6).
40-Point Games: Here’s where Flagg stands alone—he’s the only 18-year-old to achieve this feat, and he did it in just 28 games, the 8th-most played by an 18-year-old.
But it doesn’t stop there. On Saturday, Flagg scored 20 or more points for the fourth straight game in a 121-114 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, joining LeBron James as the only 18-year-olds in NBA history to accomplish this. James achieved this streak from December 19 to December 25, 2003.
Controversial question: Is Cooper Flagg on track to surpass LeBron James as the greatest 18-year-old in NBA history? Or is it too early to make that call? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Don’t miss Flagg and the Mavericks in action against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday at 8 ET on League Pass. This is a player you won’t want to take your eyes off!
