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Posted 1/12/2025

Without a doubt, Cooper Flagg is putting on a show. Barely a year into the league, he has already been mentioned in the same breath as LeBron James on several occasions—notably because he scored 42 points in a single game as a teenager, surpassing LeBron’s record of 37. Flagg has displayed elite playmaking, scoring, and defensive versatility, quickly becoming the cornerstone for Dallas.

However, the Mavericks face an uphill battle; at the season’s halfway mark, they sit well below .500. With an injury-prone Anthony Davis sidelined for six weeks with a hand injury, Flagg desperately needs help if Dallas hopes to reach the postseason. Consequently, veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson may find himself on the trading block as the front office looks to bolster the center position. Amidst this turmoil, Flagg continues to dominate the Rookie of the Year conversation alongside his former Duke teammate, Kon Knueppel. Remarkably, both are currently averaging 19.1 points per game. Much like the Mavericks, Knueppel's Hornets will need to scratch and claw to climb out of the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The developments in the coming weeks will be fascinating to watch.