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Cooper Flagg should return to the lineup immediately following the All-Star break
Even as injury concerns briefly surfaced, the ascent of Cooper Flagg has only accelerated—both on the court and in the collectibles market.
The jersey worn by the Dallas Mavericks rookie during the first half of his NBA debut was sold privately by Sotheby’s for $1 million, setting a record for a Flagg collectible and becoming the most expensive jersey ever sold through NBA Auctions.
The sale underscores the extraordinary demand surrounding Flagg, whose arrival in Dallas has reshaped the franchise’s long-term direction while catapulting him into rare historical territory less than one season into his career.
“The $1 million result for Cooper Flagg’s rookie debut jersey is a powerful testament to the significance collectors place on true ‘first moments’ in sport,” Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles, said in a statement, via ESPN. “This jersey captures the very beginning of a special career—one carrying huge expectations and excitement.”
Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg Surpasses Wembanyama in HistoriAuctionctions Sale
The previous NBA Auctions record belonged to Victor Wembanyama, whose debut jersey sold for $762,000 in November 2023. Flagg’s jersey eclipsed that figure by a wide margin, reflecting how rapidly he has emerged as one of the league’s most valuable young stars.
Flagg recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds in his first regular-season game—a 125–92 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 22—marking the official beginning of what has already become a historic rookie campaign.
Sotheby’s NBA Rookie Debut Auction will run from March 17–23 and will also feature debut jerseys from VJ Edgecombe, Kon Knueppel, Dylan Harper, Derik Queen, and others.
Injury Scare Briefly Slows Momentum—but Brings Relief to Mavericks
The record-setting sale comes just days after the Mavericks experienced a momentary scare when Flagg was spotted wearing a walking boot.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Dallas considers itself fortunate after imaging revealed only a left midfoot sprain, rather than a more serious injury.
“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 only revealed a left midfoot sprain.”
An MRI conducted last week confirmed the sprain, which occurred during Dallas’ game against the Phoenix Suns. While the team has not announced a firm timetable, Flagg has not been ruled out from returning shortly after the All-Star break.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon previously reported that Dallas expected Flagg to be available soon after the break. The Mavericks resume play Feb. 20 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Historic 49-Point Night Cemented Flagg’s Rookie Rise
Before the injury, Flagg delivered the defining performance of his rookie season.
The former Duke standout erupted for a career-high 49 points on Jan. 29, setting the NBA record for the most points ever scored by a teenager.
Flagg shot 20-of-29 from the field, punctuating the night with a clutch three-pointer that tied the game at 121–121 with 33.5 seconds remaining—a moment that further elevated his profile league-wide.
The outburst placed Flagg in elite company. Flagg joined LeBron James and Anthony Edwards as the only teenagers in NBA history to record multiple 40-point games in a single season.
Rookie of the Year Favorite Amid Team Struggles
Flagg’s historic scoring run has firmly established him as the NBA Rookie of the Year front-runner.
Over 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.
As NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner noted, Flagg also became the youngest player in league history to record four consecutive 30-point games. The last rookie to post at least 30 points and five rebounds in four straight contests was Michael Jordan.
For the season, Flagg is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, production that anchors Dallas’ long-term vision even as the team struggles.
Mavericks Fully Commit to Youth-Led Reset
The Mavericks have pivoted fully toward building around Flagg after trading away Anthony Davis, the centerpiece of the controversial Luka Dončić deal.
With Kyrie Irving sidelined for the remainder of the season due to an ACL injury, Dallas is committed to a youth-driven reset—one that positions Flagg as both the present and the future.
At 19–35, the Mavericks hold 7.5 percent odds of winning the NBA Draft Lottery in what is widely viewed as a deep 2026 draft class. After that draft, Dallas does not regain full control of its first-round picks until 2031, heightening the importance of maximizing this window.
Even amid injury uncertainty, one thing is unmistakable: Cooper Flagg’s rise—on the court, in history books, and in the marketplace—has already reached rare air.
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
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