Cooper Flagg’s Impact Grows as Mavericks Manage Rookie’s Ankle Injury
The Dallas Mavericks are playing the long game with Cooper Flagg - and for good reason. The 19-year-old rookie has quickly become one of the most impactful players on the roster, but as he works through a left ankle issue, the team is choosing caution over urgency. And when you look at what Flagg’s already done in just 42 games, it’s easy to see why.
Flagg first tweaked the ankle back on January 14 in a loss to the Denver Nuggets. He returned to the bench after the injury but never re-entered the game. Since then, the Mavericks have kept him out of the rotation, opting to manage the injury day to day rather than push him back into action too soon.
Even with the setback, Flagg’s early-season production has turned heads across the league. He’s averaging 18.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists - numbers that not only earned him two Rookie of the Month awards but also firmly established him as one of the top first-year players in the NBA.
That kind of output, especially from a 19-year-old, doesn’t just happen. It’s the product of polish, poise, and a skill set that already looks NBA-ready.
Mavs Rule Out Flagg, Thompson vs. Timberwolves
Ahead of Wednesday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, head coach Jason Kidd confirmed that both Flagg (ankle) and veteran Klay Thompson (left knee soreness) would be sidelined. It’s another sign that Dallas is prioritizing health, especially with a back-to-back looming - the Mavs host the Charlotte Hornets the following night.
Kidd didn’t commit to either player returning for the second leg of the back-to-back, simply saying, “We’ll see. Hopefully they’re back tomorrow.”
The Mavericks are continuing to evaluate Flagg’s ankle on a daily basis, leaving the door open for a return against Charlotte. If he does suit up, expect the team to consider a minutes restriction to ease him back into the flow.
Rising Stars Recognition for Flagg
Flagg’s injury news came just as he received one of the first big milestones of his young career: a selection to the Castrol Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. It’s a nod to the work he’s put in - and a preview of the spotlight that’s likely to follow him for years to come.
“It means a lot,” Flagg said Tuesday. “I feel blessed.
It’s kind of an outcome of the work I’ve put in. And obviously, the way things have gone, obviously, I wish they’d have gone a lot better.
But everything happens for a reason.”
Flagg will be reunited with some familiar faces during the Rising Stars game on February 13. He’s expected to share the court with former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel and longtime friend Derik Queen, who played with him at Montverde Academy.
“That’ll be really cool,” Flagg said. “Having that experience of getting drafted with my teammates and now it’ll be cool having that experience to play with them again.”
Kidd echoed the sentiment, praising Flagg’s performance in the first half of the season.
“It’s well deserved with what he’s done in the first half of the season to represent himself and the Mavs in the Rising Stars game,” Kidd said.
Dallas Returns from Extended Break to Face Minnesota
The Mavericks returned to action Wednesday after an unexpected three-day break. Their Sunday game in Milwaukee was postponed due to winter weather and air travel issues, giving the team its longest layoff since early December.
“Safety first,” Kidd said. “They postponed the game. We’re here and we got Minnesota and Charlotte at home.”
Minnesota comes in riding high after a 108-83 win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday - though it’s worth noting that the Warriors were without several key players, including Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Al Horford. Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards missed that game with a right foot issue but is listed as questionable. Dallas is preparing as if he’ll be back.
“Ant is one of the best players in the world,” Kidd said. “He causes some problems.
We just played Luka (Dončić). Understand, they can take over a game so our defense will be tested.”
This is the second of four meetings between the Mavericks and Timberwolves this season. Minnesota took the first matchup back on November 17, winning 120-96 behind a strong performance from Naz Reid, who dropped 22 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.
Flagg’s Health Tied to Mavs’ Long-Term Outlook
With the Mavericks sitting in the middle of the Western Conference pack, the road to a playoff push is still uncertain. But what is clear is that Cooper Flagg is central to whatever ceiling this team might have - both this season and beyond.
The numbers speak for themselves, but it’s the way Flagg plays - the feel, the versatility, the ability to impact the game on both ends - that makes him so valuable. That’s why Dallas is being careful. They’re not just managing a rookie’s minutes - they’re protecting a cornerstone.