COOPER FLAGG NAMED KIA NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: A rookie race to remember ended with Cooper Flagg joining special company – again.
The Mavs forward and No. 1 overall pick was named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year on Monday after a debut season that matched hype with production, and then some.
Flagg’s all-around game shined in Year 1, leading all rookies in scoring (21 PPG), while ranking 2nd in assists (4.5) and steals (1.2), 4th in rebounds (6.7) and fifth in blocks (0.9) per game across 70 outings.
At 19 years and 112 days old (as of April 12, the final day of the regular season), Flagg is the second-youngest Kia NBA Rookie of the Year winner behind only LeBron James (19y, 106d) – adding more history to a record season.
Do It All: Flagg finished the year as Dallas’ leader in total points (1,473), rebounds (466), assists (316) and steals (84).
Rare Air: Only one other rookie has led his team in all four categories since steals were first tracked in 1973-74: Michael Jordan.
50-Point Flash: On April 3, Flagg poured in 51 points against the Magic, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a 50-ball.
Bona Fide Buckets: He’s also the first rookie since Allen Iverson (1996-97) to post four 40-pieces.
Photo Finish: Flagg edged out his former Duke teammate, Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel, by 26 points for 1st place, marking the second-smallest top-2 margin under the current Kia ROY voting format (since 2002-03).
Philly’s VJ Edgecombe finished 3rd, rounding out a standout group of finalists.
With 45 points tonight and 51 in his last game (4/3/26), Cooper Flagg totaled 96 points over a two-game span, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only rookies to have 96+ points over any 2-game span in NBA history.
His 96 pts tied for the 5th-most pts across 2 games by a rookie.
Showing my age, but last night’s postgame scene of battered Cooper Flagg caused flashbacks of covering rookies Jason Kidd (1993-94), Dirk Nowitzki (‘98-‘99) and Luka Doncic (‘18-‘19).
What do they most have in common? Burning will to compete, win and be a great teammate.
It’s been a privilege watching each emerge and grow in real time.
P.J. Washington Jr. recorded 20 points (8-16 FG, 3-4 3FG, 1-2 FT), 11 rebounds (5 OR), 2 assists, 5 steals and 1 block in today's win at CLE. He joined Mark Aguirre and Roy Tarpley as the only players in Mavs history to record at least 20 PTS, 10 REB, 5 STL and 1 BLK in a game.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg and Charlotte Hornets guard-forward Kon Knueppel have been named the Kia NBA Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in December.
After his career-best 42-pt night at UTA, Cooper Flagg recorded 23 points, 10 rebs, 4 assists and 3 blocks vs. DET (12/18/25).
Flagg joins Michael Jordan and David Robinson as the only rookies since 1973-74 to total 65 points, 10 rebs, 10 assists and 5 blocks in a two-game span.
Word on the street is the Dallas Mavericks are hiring former Knicks scout Makhtar Ndiaye as director of pro personnel and international scouting. The former Vancouver Grizzlies big man was with the Knicks as a scout for nine years.
The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have acquired 5-time All-Star Klay Thompson and a future 2nd-round pick as part of a six-team sign-and-trade deal in exchange for Josh Green and a future 2nd-round pick.
It marks the first six-team trade in NBA history.
The Mavs had 18 dunks in tonight's 113-97 win vs. UTA. Per @EliasSports, the team's 18 dunks are tied for the second-most dunks in a game since 1997-98 (20, LAC, 12/21/19; 18, WAS, 12/1/21).
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 16 of the 2023-24 season (Feb. 5-11).
Dereck Lively II was selected to compete in the 2024 Panini Rising Stars game at All-Star 2024 in Indianapolis, the NBA announced today.
Lively is the first Maverick to be named to the Rising Stars game since five-time All-Star Luka Dončić was a participant in 2019 and 2020.