A day after becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record 10 assists in a loss to the Lakers, No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg made some more history in a 114-100 win against the Clippers Saturday night. Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to record at least 35 points at 18 years and 343 days, five days younger than LeBron James did in his rookie season.

Flagg’s efficiency was notable, hitting 13 of 22 shots (59.1%) with a total of eight rebounds and two assists. He scored 21 of his points in the first half alone.

Cooper Flagg

Imagn Images

In the first half, Flagg found himself unchallenged, as James Harden offered minimal defense, allowing Flagg to drive towards the basket with relative ease. Despite the Clippers’ lackluster defense, which ranks 26th in the league, Flagg’s performance was a significant one.

As the game progressed, Flagg again showed composure in crucial moments, including a late pull-up jumper that aided his team’s lead going into the final minutes.

This performance positioned him as a contender for Rookie of the Year against former teammate Kon Knueppel, who is currently leading rookies in various metrics.

In the last five games, Flagg’s averages have improved markedly, showing a potential trajectory that could see him challenge for the prestigious award.

Timespan	PPG	RPG	APG	FG%	3P%
First 15 games	15.5	6.3	3.1	45.5%	29.3%
Last 5 games	20.2	7.2	4.4	48.1%	11.8%

As his performance stabilizes, Flagg’s trajectory will be interesting to track, especially with lineup adjustments reflecting in his playing effectiveness.