Cooper Flagg was named Western Rookie of the Month for the second consecutive year

The Dallas Mavericks‘ a rookie sensation Cooper Flagg continued his outstanding start to the NBA season, winning the Kia Rookie of the Month Award for December. This is the second straight month Flagg has had got the honormaking him just the third Maverick in franchise history to win back-to-back Rookie of the Month honors.

Selected first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke, Flagg, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward/guard, has lived up to the hype so far. In 13 games in December, he averaged 23.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks in 35.6 minutes per game, shooting 51.6% from the field and 80.8% from the free throw line. His monthly totals – 306 points, 80 rebounds, 63 assists, 13 steals and 15 blocks – put him in elite company, joining Blake Griffin, LeBron James, Ron Harper and Larry Bird as the only rookies in NBA history to record at least 300 points, 75 rebounds, 10 rebounds and 110 blocks. month.

Flagg hit a new personal best, scoring 42 points against the Utah Jazz on Dec. 15, complete with seven rebounds, six assists, one steal and two blocks. At 18 years, 359 days, Flagg became the youngest player in league history to score 40 points in a game and tied Mavericks rookie Mark Aguirre’s record for most points in a single contest. Two days later, he had 23 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks against the Detroit Pistons, becoming the first rookie to score at least 65 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and five blocks in a game since David Robinson in 1989.

On Christmas Day, Flagg scored 27 points with six rebounds and five assists against the Golden State Warriors, becoming the first rookie since Pete Maravich in 1970 to record at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists on Christmas Day. He also joined LeBron James and Luka Doncic as the only teenagers in NBA history to record 20-plus points, five-plus rebounds and five-plus assists in three consecutive games.

Through his first 34 games, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks, ranking first among rookies in points (652), second in rebounds (218), assists (139) and steals (41) and third in blocks. He is the only rookie this season to finish in the top three in all five major statistical categories. He also proved to be a reliable player, scoring 70 points on 47.7% shooting in late-game situations, and is considered the early favorite to win Rookie of the Year, leading his closest competitor, former Duke teammate Kon Knuepel, by significant odds.