Cooper Flagg enters Year 2 in Dallas on Oct. 21 vs. Houston after historic rookie campaign

Became first rookie since Jordan to lead team in 4 categories

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1m1 min read

Cooper Flagg in Year 1 took the league BY STORM! 🏁 4th teen Kia NBA ROY (LaMelo, KD, LBJ) 🏁 Youngest ever to score 40+ Via @NBA on X

What happened: Cooper Flagg begins his second NBA season with Dallas on Wednesday, Oct. 21 against Houston on ESPN. Flagg completed a rookie run in which he became the fourth teenager to win NBA Rookie of the Year alongside LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and LaMelo Ball. He also set the league mark as the youngest player to score 40 or more points in a game.

Why it matters: Flagg enters the 2026-27 campaign after becoming the first rookie since Michael Jordan to pace his roster in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Dallas recently exercised his contract option and trimmed two-way spots ahead of the regular-season slate.

By the numbers: In recent preseason play against the Hawks, Flagg recorded 26 points on 8-of-20 shooting and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line, adding 12 rebounds and four assists.

What to watch: Dallas tips off the 2026-27 regular season against Houston on Wednesday, Oct. 21 on ESPN.

Sources

@NBA 2026-10-17T22:09:21.492914+00:00

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