Cooper Flagg Injury Forces Mavericks To Miss Rising Stars Game

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg is set to miss at least two major events after a new foot problem, with the 19-year-old ruled out of the final game before the All-Star break and withdrawn from the NBA Rising Stars game scheduled for Friday night because of a left midfoot sprain.

The Mavericks confirmed that an MRI carried out on Wednesday night showed the midfoot issue, which happened during the defeat to Phoenix on Tuesday, when Cooper Flagg scored 27 points in 36 minutes. The team stated that more medical information on Cooper Flagg will come later and that Cooper Flagg will also skip Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Despite this Cooper Flagg injury setback, the teenager has quickly become a key figure for the Dallas Mavericks after a quiet start to the campaign. The No. 1 overall pick from last summer is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists across 49 appearances and collected Western Conference Rookie of the Month honours in both November and December.

This latest Cooper Flagg injury continues a worrying pattern during the past month. Cooper Flagg left a loss against the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 14 after a sprained right ankle in the first half, only days after hurting the same ankle during a win over the Brooklyn Nets two nights earlier, raising concern about how much contact he absorbs.

The Dallas Mavericks have not put a public timetable on the Cooper Flagg injury, instead saying updates will arrive "as appropriate" while medical staff monitor recovery. The team resumes its schedule after the All-Star break on Feb. 20 at Minnesota, and coaching decisions around Cooper Flagg’s workload may shape how Dallas manages the rest of the season.