Bold headline: A promising Mavericks rookie faces a setback that could reshape Dallas’ season, and the timing adds extra drama just before the break. But here’s where it gets controversial: does a rising star’s injury change how we evaluate the team’s recent moves and future potential?
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg will miss Dallas’s final game before the All-Star break and will not participate in the NBA Rising Stars event on Friday night due to a left midfoot sprain.
The Mavericks announced on Wednesday that an MRI confirmed the injury, which occurred during the 120-111 loss at Phoenix the night prior, a game in which Flagg logged 27 points in 36 minutes. The team said that further updates would be shared as appropriate.
Flagg, who was the No. 1 overall pick in last summer’s draft, is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 49 games for Dallas this season.
The 19-year-old recently set an NBA teen-record by posting four straight games with at least 30 points. This hot streak began with a 49-point game on Jan. 29 against Charlotte, a performance that followed his earlier roommate connection with fellow rookie Kon Knueppel, whom he shared a Duke dorm with during their freshman year.
Dallas enters Thursday night’s game at the Los Angeles Lakers riding an eight-game losing streak. During that stretch, Flagg has averaged 29.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. Last week, the Mavericks also traded Anthony Davis, a move that sent shockwaves through the league and signaled a potential retooling phase for a franchise that still features star Luka Dončić as a centerpiece.
Looking ahead, Dallas will play its first three games after the All-Star break on the road, resuming on Friday, February 20, at Minnesota.
