NBA Insider Gives Encouraging Cooper Flagg Update

The Dallas Mavericks received a momentary scare over the weekend when rookie star Cooper Flagg was spotted wearing a walking boot — but early medical results have eased fears inside the organization.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavericks consider themselves fortunate after imaging revealed that Flagg is dealing with a left midfoot sprain, not a more severe injury.

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MRI Results Bring Relief for Mavericks

“Cooper Flagg was indeed spotted with a boot on his left foot Saturday,” Stein reported on Monday. “But league sources tell The Stein Line that Dallas feels fortunate that last week’s MRI results on Flagg only revealed a left midfoot sprain.”

While the exact timetable for Flagg’s return remains unclear, Stein added that the Mavericks are relieved the injury did not involve more serious structural damage.

An MRI conducted on Wednesday confirmed the sprain, which occurred during Dallas’ game against the Phoenix Suns. The team has not ruled out Flagg returning shortly after the All-Star break.

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All-Star Absence, but Return Could Come Soon

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon previously reported, citing a team source, that Flagg was expected to be available shortly after the All-Star break.

Dallas’ first game following the break is Feb. 20 on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The injury forced Flagg to miss Thursday’s road game against the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as the Rising Stars Game during All-Star Weekend — a notable absence for the league’s most electric rookie.

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Losing Streak Adds Pressure to Injury Management

Beyond Flagg’s health, Stein noted that Dallas’ greater concern may be managing the rookie through a difficult stretch of the season.

The Mavericks entered the All-Star break on a nine-game losing streak, their longest skid since the 1997–98 season. Dallas is now 19–35, and Flagg has rarely experienced losing on this scale at any level of basketball.

Despite the team’s struggles, Flagg has continued to perform at an elite level when available. Dallas is 2–3 without him, underscoring his immediate impact.

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Flagg’s Historic Rookie Run Still Resonates

Before the injury, Flagg firmly established himself as the NBA Rookie of the Year front-runner.

During a four-game stretch against Charlotte, Houston, Boston, and San Antonio, Flagg totaled 151 points, becoming the first rookie since Allen Iverson in 1997 to reach that mark over four games.

As NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner wrote, Flagg also became the youngest player in league history to record four straight 30-point games. The last rookie to post at least 30 points and five rebounds in four consecutive contests was Michael Jordan.

For the season, Flagg is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, numbers that anchor Dallas’ long-term vision.

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Mavericks’ Rebuild Centers on Flagg

The Mavericks have fully pivoted toward building around Flagg after trading away Anthony Davis, the centerpiece of the controversial Luka Dončić deal.

With the franchise now committed to a youth-driven reset, Flagg represents both the present and the future in Dallas.

At 19–35, the Mavericks currently hold 7.5 percent odds of winning the NBA Draft Lottery — a critical opportunity in what is widely considered a deep 2026 draft class featuring potential franchise-level talent.

After that draft, Dallas does not regain full control of its first-round picks until 2031, heightening the importance of maximizing this window.

Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo