DraftKings Sportsbook moved Cooper Flagg to the top of the NBA Rookie of the Year betting board after the Mavericks' 19‑year‑old erupted over the weekend. Flagg posted 51 points in a loss to Orlando and followed with 45 points, nine assists and a near triple‑double in a 134‑128 win over Los Angeles. Line sits at -250 for Flagg versus +180 for Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel.

Those two outings made Flagg the first rookie since Allen Iverson—and the only teenager ever—to average at least 45 points, five rebounds and five assists across a two‑game span and sparked a surge of media buzz. ESPN Research notes he joins Walt Bellamy and Wilt Chamberlain as the only rookies with back‑to‑back 45‑point games, a feat achieved by just five legends.

Flagg now leads all first‑year players with 20.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, pushing the Mavericks toward a more competitive standing despite a 25‑53 record. Teammate P.J. Washington praised his versatility, while veteran LeBron James called the youngster “special.” Flagg’s odds lead cements him as the front‑runner in the league’s historic rookie race.