Lately, Cooper Flagg has gone above and beyond the call of duty. The rookie sensation for the Dallas Mavericks has been entrusted with the of starting point guard role. With that will come a certain amount of criticism as to whether the No.1 pick coming off one year at Duke has what it takes.

Cooper Flagg added another rare accomplishment to his early NBA resume on Friday night, producing a stat line that continues to separate him from every other 18-year-old who has played in the league.

Is it too early for me to assume the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year race has already been narrowed down to two players? Probably, but with the way Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel have been playing, it feels difficult to see another player crashing the party.

Cooper Flagg takes over the No. 1 spot in NBA Rookie Power Rankings as Derik Queen surges, highlighting a standout class on Dec. 11.

It feels like every time we refresh the box score, Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg is doing something that makes you double-take. We aren’t just talking about a nice dunk or a solid quarter here and there.

On Saturday morning, ESPN published a list of the 25 best players under the age of 25 and Flagg was featured prominently. See where the Mavs’ talented rookie landed below and what ESPN’s NBA insiders had to say about him.

DeMarcus Cousins doubles down on his take that Ace Bailey should have been the No.1 pick of the 2025 NBA Draft because he is the closest player to McGrady.

Cooper Flagg’s recent rise in play and two-way impact have vaulted the Mavericks rookie into the lead for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year race.

The veteran and rookie will meet again next month.

The Los Angeles Lakers won't be thrilled with a recent reunion idea involving their star guard and the Dallas Mavericks.