Eighteen-year-old Cooper Flagg made NBA history with back-to-back milestones for the Dallas Mavericks, including a 10-assist game and a 35-point performance in a victory. Meanwhile, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant progresses in recovery from a calf strain, and San Antonio Spurs' Devin Vassell continues a scoring hot streak. These developments highlight recent team updates across the league.
In a standout stretch for the Dallas Mavericks, rookie Cooper Flagg achieved two significant milestones. He became the youngest player ever to record a 10-assist game, followed by the youngest to score 35 points, surpassing LeBron James' mark by five days. These feats contributed to a win for the Mavericks, who have been seeking positive momentum.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd praised Flagg's poise: “He’s only 18 years old, but he seems like he’s been in this league before. He ran the offense for us. He drove the ball. He got to the rim, got to the free throw line. He stepped up and made free throws for us late.” Teammate Klay Thompson, coming off one of his stronger outings this season, added, “Cooper’s upside is limitless. Sometimes I can’t believe he should be a freshman in college.” Thompson compared their dynamic to a veteran and prodigy, likening himself to Byron Scott alongside the franchise's future.
Shifting to the Memphis Grizzlies, guard Ja Morant is on track with his recovery from a calf strain. He is expected to be re-evaluated next week upon the team's return to Memphis following a four-game road trip ending Tuesday. Morant has begun light on-court work as part of his ramp-up, aligning with the initial timeline provided.
For the San Antonio Spurs, forward Devin Vassell is in peak form, producing more points over his last two games than any prior stretch in his career. This included 35 points in Friday's victory over the Denver Nuggets. Vassell credited teammate Keldon for encouragement: “Keldon told me in the last two minutes if the ball comes to me, don’t think. Just be aggressive and shoot.” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson commended Vassell's defensive effort alongside his scoring: “He’s becoming a winning player. We’ve got our arm around him and our foot up his backside to continue to do it. He’s a difference-maker when he does that.”