Only Jordan did it before: Cooper Flagg reveals the record he shares with the greatest of all time

Only Jordan did it before: Cooper Flagg reveals the record he shares with the greatest of all time

At Dallas Mavericks media day on 25 September, Cooper Flagg’s first NBA season was recast as a top-of-the-record-book credential, and the reigning Rookie of the Year confirmed he has grown…

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Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls in points, rebounds, assists and steals as a rookie in 1984-85. Until Cooper Flagg’s debut season with the Dallas Mavericks, no other player had matched that four-category sweep in a first year.

Flagg’s numbers are on the record: 1,473 points, 466 rebounds, 316 assists and 84 steals. The Source reported the feat in April, calling it a rookie milestone unmatched since the NBA began tracking steals in 1973-74.

Taller, and by his own count

Flagg was listed at 6-foot-9 on the Mavericks’ training camp roster. At his pre-camp physical, he measured 6-foot-10 without shoes, Yahoo Sports reported from media day.

Asked whether he might still be growing, Flagg did not close the door.

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“Maybe I’m 6’11”, I don’t know,” he said.

Reporters at the American Airlines Center described the 19-year-old as visibly bulkier than at the end of last season, an off-season gain that should help him absorb contact and finish over defenders.

Dusty May takes over

Flagg is entering year two under a new head coach. Dusty May was hired on 23 June, months after Masai Ujiri was installed as team president on 4 May. Ujiri, formerly of the Toronto Raptors, has already remade the front office and reshaped the roster around Flagg.

May used media day to lay out the identity he wants.

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“The game has moved so far away from forwards and centers and guards. We want guys who play basketball well and efficiently, and I think we have a team that does that.”

Ujiri set the tone from the podium.

“We want to win in Dallas, and we will win in Dallas. This is the beginning. Basketball is starting.”

Kyrie Irving, cleared

Kyrie Irving was the other central figure at media day, back on the floor after a serious knee injury that kept him out for much of Flagg’s rookie year. He said he was under “no restrictions” heading into camp and used the platform to reframe his absence.

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“My injury was probably the best thing that happened to me. I was obsessively looking at the craft of basketball,” Irving said. “I think we fell short of my goal, and the last year gave me a lot of time to reflect on where I want to be as a player, but most importantly, where I want to be as a man.”

Flagg and Irving have not yet played a game together. Flagg was asked what the pairing would look like.

“He just makes it easy to play with him. He’s one of the greats in our game and he’s an incredible talent. But I think that, combined with his personality, makes it easy to fit next to and play with.”

The 2026-27 NBA regular season tips off in mid-October, with Flagg’s second year and his first alongside Irving to follow.

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Sources: – [Dallas Mavericks hire Dusty May, NBC 5 DFW](https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/dallas-mavericks/the-dallas-mavericks-hired-reigning-national-champion-head-coach-dusty-may-from-michigan/4039476/) – [Mavericks hire Dusty May to replace Jason Kidd, CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/dallas-mavericks-hire-michigan-coach-dusty-may-to-replace-jason-kidd/) – [Mavericks hire Michigan’s Dusty May as coach, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/news/mavs-hire-dusty-may-coach)

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