Cooper Flagg Dominates Macao Preseason Games with 33 Points

Cooper Flagg recorded 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in 45 minutes of play during the NBA China Games in Macao.

Cooper Flagg totaled 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals, and two blocks across 45 minutes in two preseason games against the Houston Rockets in Macao. During a 30-second sequence on Friday, the 19-year-old forward executed a sideways jump stop for a midrange jumper, blocked an Amen Thompson shot, and finished a fast break with a lob dunk. Flagg also converted a 3-pointer from the top of the key after Thompson went under a screen.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN reports that Flagg is entering his second season after becoming the first rookie since Michael Jordan to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Last season, Flagg averaged at least 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists, joining Jordan, Larry Bird, and Luka Doncic as the only rookies to reach those marks since the 1976-77 merger. He also became the first teenager in NBA history to record four 40-point games and a 50-point game.

The Mavericks are integrating Flagg alongside Kyrie Irving, who returned to the court in China after a 19-month absence due to a torn left ACL. While Flagg shot 29.5% from 3-point range during his 26-win debut season, coach Dusty May noted the player's improved footwork and three-level scoring ability. The franchise, now led by president Masai Ujiri, has 21 nationally televised games scheduled for the upcoming season.