Cooper Flagg insisted that he was not focused on the race to win the Rookie of the Year award despite his 51-point haul for the Dallas Mavericks against the Orlando Magic. 

Flagg starred in the Mavericks' 138-127 defeat to Orlando on Friday, with 24 of his points total coming in a blistering fourth quarter, but it was not enough for his team. 

The 19-year-old's display saw him become the youngest rookie in NBA history with a 50-point performance, surpassing Brandon Jennings' previous record (20y and 52d). 

He is the ninth rookie to achieve the feat, after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes, Allen Iverson, George Mikan and Earl Monroe.

Flagg also joined Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to have multiple 45-point performances as rookies, putting him in the conversation for the Rookie of the Year. 

Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets is considered the favourite to scoop the award, having averaged 18.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists so far this season. 

"It is what it is," Flagg said regarding the Rookie of the Year race. "For me, like I've said before, it's just about getting better every single day.

"I know what I'm capable of and what I can do. So for me, it's always been about just improving every night, going out there, competing, being the player that I know I can be, and I'll let all the rest of the stuff figure it out."

HIM.#MFFLAGG pic.twitter.com/17X3BNkDZ3

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 4, 2026

Flagg is on the verge of joining Jordan, Larry Bird, and ex-Maverick Luka Doncic as the only rookies since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976-77 to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. He is averaging 20.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists for Dallas currently. 

And when asked if his recent display may have swayed some voters, Flagg said: "I'm not sure," Flagg said.

"I would hope it would help, but like I said, I'm not going to worry about that. I'm going to worry about just getting better every single night and trying to look at a big picture and start building towards something."

Flagg's frustration boiled over early in the fourth quarter when Orlando guard Desmond Bane was not called for a foul after shoving the teenager in the back.

He immediately and angrily approached referee Sean Corbin to argue the no-call and was called for the second technical foul of his career. 

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd confronted the officials and also received a technical before eventually being ejected and forced to watch the rest of the game in the locker room. 

"I think it was warranted. I'm not going to lie," Flagg said of the Mavs' reactions to the no-call. "I mean, I talked to Bane after the play.

"He told me he was intentionally trying to foul me, and so I honestly don't know how three of them [officials] out there didn't see that.

"I mean, obviously, he must not have had the right view, or they weren't paying attention, but they missed it.

"So, I think that type of reaction is warranted because there's not really an excuse."