No. 1 pick breaks NBA teenage scoring record in thrilling Rookie of the Year showdown with Kon Knueppel that ends in heartbreak
Cooper Flagg just became the greatest teenage scorer in NBA history. The No. 1 pick dropped 49 points Thursday night at the American Airlines Center, breaking the NBA record for most points scored by a teenager in a single game. He shattered the Dallas Mavericks’ rookie record he shared with Mark Aguirre a record that was literally being honored with a halftime ceremony during the very game Flagg surpassed it.
But here’s the cruel part: he lost. Kon Knueppel, his former Duke roommate and fellow Rookie of the Year frontrunner, hit the game-winning free throws after forcing Flagg into a turnover with 7.6 seconds remaining. The Hornets won 123-121. Flagg’s tightly contested jumper bounced off the back of the rim at the buzzer. In a night that will define his legacy in many ways, the one thing that matters most the win slipped through his fingers.
This was supposed to be Flagg’s coronation moment. Forty-nine points. Twenty made field goals (first rookie with at least 20 since Brandon Jennings’ 55-point game in 2009). Three of five from three-point range. Twenty-eight points in the paint. Most of his damage done inside, where he was virtually unstoppable. He also grabbed 10 rebounds. By any measure, this was one of the greatest individual performances by a rookie in NBA history.
And he lost by two points to his friend.
“I’m trying to learn still end-of-game situations,” Flagg said afterward, taking responsibility for the loss despite his historic performance. That’s not false humility. That’s a 19-year-old understanding that individual performance, no matter how dominant, doesn’t matter if the team loses. That’s the mentality of a champion-level competitor.
When 49 points isn’t enough
Here’s what made Thursday’s game remarkable: Flagg’s 49-point night came against elite competition. Knueppel isn’t just any opponent. The No. 4 pick finished with 34 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including eight three-pointers on 12 attempts a Hornets rookie record. Together, they combined for 83 points, the most by a pair of rookies in a game since Tiny Archibald and Pete Maravich combined for 91 in 1971.
This wasn’t a blowout where Flagg padded stats against a bad team. This was a Rookie of the Year battle where two elite talents went head-to-head, with the other guy making the crucial plays when it mattered most.
Flagg got rolling in the second quarter with 23 points in that frame alone. He had 40 by the end of the third quarter, joining LeBron James and Anthony Edwards as the only teenagers in NBA history to record multiple 40-point performances. He was on pace for something historic. He delivered on that promise with his 49th point late in the game.
But momentum is a fragile thing in basketball. Knueppel caught fire early, making his first three three-pointers in the opening four-plus minutes. Flagg recognized the danger immediately. Playing with Knueppel at Duke, he knew what happens when his friend gets into rhythm.
“It’s not good,” Flagg said of Knueppel’s hot start. “I played with him last year, and when he sees some easy ones go in to start the game, it’s never a good thing. That’s how it is with a lot of great shooters. You never want to let him tee up open shots and start a game and get into a rhythm.”
Flagg’s warning to himself went unheeded. The Hornets schemed brilliantly late, doubling Flagg at the three-point line with the game on the line. Knueppel timed his double-team perfectly, deflecting Flagg’s pass. Fellow former Duke teammate Sion James saved the ball, starting a fast break that led to Knueppel’s game-winning free throws.
The Rookie of the Year narrative shifts
Before Thursday, Flagg and Knueppel entered the night with the best odds to win Rookie of the Year according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Flagg was favored at -400. Knueppel was at +280. A 49-point, 10-rebound performance should cement Flagg’s award case. But losses matter too, especially losses to your direct competition.
Knueppel acknowledged his odds probably took a hit. “He’s probably going to jump me with 49 and 10, but it is what it is,” Knueppel said. “An award like that is cool, but whoever gets it, I’ll be happy for him.”
But Knueppel also made the biggest plays when it mattered. He forced the turnover. He made the free throws. He got the win. That’s the kind of clutch gene that resonates with voters.
Flagg, for his part, isn’t dwelling on individual accolades. “I’m not about numbers. I’m about wins and losses,” he said, echoing Mavericks coach Jason Kidd’s assessment. “That’s who he is. For a young man who thinks that way, he’s going to be a champion sooner than later.”
Right now, though, he’s just a teenager who had the greatest scoring night of any player his age in NBA history and still went home disappointed.
