How Cooper Flagg broke LeBron James' long-standing NBA record

How Cooper Flagg broke LeBron James' long-standing NBA record originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Dallas Mavericks star rookie Cooper Flagg played against Los Angeles Lakers legend LeBron James for the first time on Friday night. The following evening, Flagg broke a long-standing NBA record that James had set way back in 2003.

Flagg, 18, scored 35 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night, and in the process he became the youngest player ever to hit that point total in league history. James is the only other player to ever score 35 points in a game as an 18-year old – something he did twice as a rookie with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cooper Flagg passes LeBron James as youngest player ever to score 35 points

But, Flagg was five days younger than James was when he notched 35 points for the first time as a rookie, making him the youngest ever to do so.

From ESPN:

“LeBron James is the only other 18-year-old to score 35 points in an NBA game, having done so twice as a rookie for the Cleveland Cavaliers in December 2023. James' first 35-point game occurred when he was 18 years, 348 days old, five days older than Flagg on Saturday night.”

Now, Flagg officially holds the record as the youngest player ever to score 35 points in a game in NBA history. James held the record for 22 years, it will be interesting to see how long it stands for Flagg.

The promising play of Flagg has been the biggest silver lining for the Mavericks in what has been an otherwise forgettable season. In 20 games played, Flagg is averaging 16.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals per performance. It’s obviously early, but he’s started to show why he was such a highly hyped prospect coming out of college.

When it comes to James, he was impressed by Flagg before he ever even stepped foot on an NBA court.

"I personally think that he wants to be great," James said of Flagg after he was drafted by Dallas back in June. "He had a hell of a year at Duke. A guy that can do so many different things out on the floor. Can play with the ball, can play without the ball. His jump shot is going to continue to get better. Super athletic, quick second jump. … So, I think he's going to be amazing."

James is probably even more impressed with Flagg now that the rookie has surpassed the veteran in the history books.