Cooper Flagg to miss Rising Stars game, NBA All-Star weekend with foot sprain

Mavericks star rookie Cooper Flagg will miss this weekend’s NBA All-Star festivities due to a left foot sprain, the Mavericks announced Wednesday. The injury was suffered during Dallas’ Tuesday matchup against the Phoenix Suns, during which Flagg had 27 points, five rebounds and two assists. He also won’t play in Thursday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Flagg’s ailment is a rare blemish amid what has been a standout rookie season for Dallas’ new centerpiece. On the season, he leads all first-year players with a team-high 20.4 points per game, ranks fourth in rebounds (6.6), fourth in assists (4.1) and is tied for fourth in steals. He leads Dallas (19-34, 12th in the West entering Wednesday) in total points, boards, dimes and swipes while his 39 blocks rank third on the team, trailing only P.J. Washington (51) and Daniel Gafford (50).

The Mavericks announced today that forward/guard Cooper Flagg underwent an MRI that revealed a left midfoot sprain.

The injury occurred in Dallas’ game at PHX on Tuesday. Flagg will miss the team’s game at LAL on Thursday as well as the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars game on Friday.

— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) February 12, 2026

The first-year forward has stepped onto the NBA’s scene in full force amid an otherwise challenging season for the Mavericks. On Jan. 29, he scored a season-high 49 points against the Charlotte Hornets, setting a franchise record for rookies. Two of the six 40-point games in Dallas’ history belong to Flagg.

His transition to the league has involved the Mavericks placing ample trust in his hands, which included head coach Jason Kidd making him the team’s primary ballhander to develop his playmaking skills. Through his first 19 career NBA appearances, he averaged 3.5 assists to go with 15.7 points (45.1 percent overall shooting, 26.4 percent on 3s), 6.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals. Since then, he’s increased his average to 4.5 dimes along with 23.3 points while grabbing 6.6 rebounds. Flagg has shot 49.7 percent overall and 33.3 percent on 3s in that span. He’s on pace to join Luka Dončić (2018-2019) and Jay Vincent (1981-82) as the only rookies in Mavericks history to average at least 20 points.