Cooper Flagg is flying high this season. Photo: Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images
Cooper Flagg is having a record-breaking rookie year, even though his team is tanking.
Why it matters: The Dallas Mavericks' mediocre season is lowering the stakes for Flagg's first year and giving him the opportunity to develop at his own pace.
And, with Kyrie Irving out all season and Anthony Davis no longer on the team, Flagg feels like the team's only hope right now.
Driving the news: A jersey Flagg wore at his NBA debut in October sold for $1 million dollars this month, breaking the record for the most expensive NBA debut jersey sold in the same season.
By comparison, San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama's debut jersey — the previous record — sold for $762,000 in 2023.
"[Flagg's] jersey captures the very beginning of a special career, one carrying huge expectations and excitement," Sotheby's head of modern collectibles, Brahm Wachter, said in a statement.
The intrigue: The Mavericks broke their 10-game losing streak in yesterday's 134-130 win over the Indiana Pacers. The Mavs are 20-36 for the season.
But, Cooper Flagg has scored over 30 points in sevengames.
On Jan. 29, he scored 49 points against the Charlotte Hornets and set a new NBA record for points by a teenager.
Yes, but: Flagg hasn't played since Feb. 10 because of a midfoot sprain. The injury kept him from competing in the All-Star weekend's Rising Stars event.
What we're watching: The Mavericks have around two months left in their season, which will give Flagg and the team's other additions more time to get used to each other.
The team also has two first-round picks in this year's draft, per the DMN.
