Cooper Flagg's jersey from NBA debut sells for $1M

Cooper Flagg's game-worn jersey from the first half of his Dallas Mavericks debut sold privately for $1 million earlier this month through Sotheby's, the company announced Thursday.

The amount broke the record for the most expensive NBA debut jersey solid in the same season. San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama's jersey from his debut game in 2023 sold for $762,000.

Ironically, Flagg's NBA debut came against Wembanyana and the Spurs on Oct. 22. He collected 10 points and 10 rebounds in Dallas' 125-92 loss to San Antonio.

"I think people see Flagg with the potential for an American icon," said Brahm Wachter, head of modern collectibles at Sotheby's. "I'm not quite sure that, at least in my time handling sort of young rookie memorabilia, that I've seen anything quite like this demand since LeBron (James)."

Flagg, 19, leads all rookies with an average of 20.4 points per game. He also is producing 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 49 games (all starts) this season since being selected by the Mavericks with the top overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke.

Flagg's 49-point performance in a home loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Jan. 29 broke the NBA record for the highest-scoring outing by a teen.

The most expensive jersey sold from an NBA rookie season belongs to Michael Jordan. An autographed 1984 Chicago Bulls jersey worn during Jordan's rookie year sold through Sotheby's for $4.2 million in March 2025.

--Field Level Media