Cooper Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks' top draft pick, has scored 70 clutch points this season, ranking sixth league-wide. At 19, he is adapting quickly to high-pressure moments, potentially breaking rookie records. His performance highlights the team's many close games.
Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in last summer's draft, is making an early case for the most clutch rookie season in NBA history since tracking began in 1996-97. Playing for the Dallas Mavericks, who lead the league with 27 clutch games—defined as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime with a score difference of five points or fewer—Flagg has tallied 70 clutch points across 25 games so far in the 2025-26 season.
For context, Victor Wembanyama scored 84 clutch points in his rookie year, Anthony Edwards 43, and Cade Cunningham 67. Only six rookies have reached 100 clutch points historically, a mark Flagg could hit before the All-Star break if trends continue. He ranks sixth in the league overall, surpassing stars like Luka Dončić, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, and James Harden. The Mavericks hold an 11-14 record in these situations.
A standout moment came in November against the Milwaukee Bucks, where Flagg, down one with 35 seconds left, drove past two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and converted despite the size mismatch, adjusting midair for contact. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has prioritized giving Flagg the ball in crunch time. "He's not afraid," Kidd said after a clutch win over the Pelicans that month. "We get him the ball and he seems like he's been there before. Being able to score when you need a bucket, when everyone knows that you're coming to him, he's delivered. For an 18 year old, that's pretty special." Flagg turned 19 in December.
His efficiency shines in mid-range shots, hitting 50% from around the free-throw line (87th percentile per Cleaning the Glass), carrying into clutch scenarios with calm pull-ups and floaters reminiscent of Durant or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Averaging 2.8 clutch points per game, Flagg needs 69 more to break Brandon Jennings' rookie record of 138, achievable if nearly 70% of Dallas games remain close. With 46 games left, his trajectory could position him for Rookie of the Year contention, though Clutch Player of the Year faces stiff competition from leaders like Gilgeous-Alexander (104 points, 10-4 record).
