Cooper Flagg was named the NBA’s Western Conference rookie of the month Tuesday.
The Dallas Mavericks forward became the team’s 13th player to win the award and first since Luka Doncic, who won the award five consecutive times in 2018-19.
Despite his status as the youngest player in the NBA, Flagg has become one of the NBA’s rising stars and he’s on pace to play in the annual event for the league’s top rookies and sophomores during February’s All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.
Flagg’s versatility was on display through the months of October and November, averaging 16.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals in 20 games.
For the season, he’s averaging 17 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 33.9 minutes. In addition, he totaled 48 points in the clutch, the fourth-most among all players through October and November games. He’s not just scoring when the pressure intensifies; he’s efficient with a league-leading 56% shooting clip from the field.
Flagg currently ranks second among rookies in points (358), first in rebounds (139) and is tied for first in assists. He is second in steals (29) and fourth in blocks (13). He is the only rookie this season to be in the top five in each of the five major categories, and he is tied for the most double-digit scoring games (20) and double-doubles (3) among rookies.
Selected by the Mavericks with the first overall pick in June’s NBA draft, Flagg made history on Saturday when he became the youngest player (18 years, 343 days) to record 35 points in a game in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers. The mark was also the most points by a rookie this season.
One day prior, Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to record double-digit assists in a 13-point, 11-assist performance against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Charlotte wing Kon Knueppel was named the Eastern Conference rookie of the month for October and November. Flagg and Knueppel were college roommates at Duke, which marks the first time both winners are from the same college since the NBA began awarding the honor in each conference in 2001-02.
Other nominees for the Western Conference rookie of the month included Memphis’ Cedric Coward and New Orleans’ rookie duo of Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, who was Flagg’s high school teammate at Montverde Academy (Florida).
Flagg said during media day that he aims to win this year’s Rookie of the Year award. He’s off to a good start.
The more rookie of the month awards on his resume, the better his chances will be.
Story by Mike Curtis, The Dallas Morning News.
