Cooper Flagg has quickly established himself as a rising star for the Dallas Mavericks, leading the team in several major statistical categories as the franchise commits to a full rebuild around him following the trade of Anthony Davis.
For now, though, Flagg is dealing with a health issue. As the Mavericks return from the All-Star break for a road matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, his status remains uncertain.
Mavericks HC Jason Kidd Rules Out Cooper Flagg Against Wolves
Flagg suffered the injury during a Feb. 10 road game against the Phoenix Suns. An MRI later revealed a left midfoot sprain, which ruled him out of Dallas’ final game before the All-Star break against the Los Angeles Lakers. He was also unable to participate in the NBA Rising Stars Game, where he had been selected as a top pick.
As the Mavericks travel to Minneapolis for Friday night’s matchup against the Wolves, there were encouraging signs when Flagg was spotted running without a walking boot. However, head coach Jason Kidd officially ruled the rookie out for the game, adding that he remains “day to day” moving forward.
“Cooper Flagg is out tomorrow. No longer wearing the boot and was running. Asked Jason Kidd if he’ll play on this road trip. Kidd said they’re taking it ‘day by day,'” wrote Christian Clark of The Athletic.
Friday’s contest will mark just the sixth game Flagg has missed this season. But Dallas has struggled even in his presence and currently sits 12th in the Western Conference at 19–35. The rookie is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 48.2% from the field after being selected No. 1 overall out of Duke University in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Mavericks enter the matchup against Minnesota on a nine-game losing streak. Their most recent loss came before the break, a 124–104 defeat to the Lakers. Flagg’s last appearance was in a 120–111 loss to the Suns, when he scored 27 points. In the four games prior, he posted scoring totals of 14, 32, 36, and 34 points.
Dallas has been attempting to regroup following last season’s blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. At this season’s trade deadline, Davis was moved again, this time to the Washington Wizards, along with D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum.
Despite the injury setback, Flagg has been a fixture on highlight reels throughout his rookie campaign, and the Mavericks remain fully committed to building their future around him.
