The Dallas Mavericks confirmed Wednesday that rookie Cooper Flagg suffered a left midfoot sprain and will be sidelined through All-Star Weekend. The injury occurred Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns and was revealed by an MRI the following day. Why it matters: Dallas is already spiraling, and its franchise cornerstone is now temporarily out.
Flagg will miss Thursday's matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA Rising Stars Challenge, an event heavily marketed around the No. 1 overall pick. A team source told ESPN he is expected to be available immediately after the break, though the Mavericks have not formally locked in a return date. Dallas resumes play Feb. 20 on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
What Cooper Flagg's Absence Means for Dallas
The timing is significant. Dallas lost eight straight games despite Flagg averaging 29.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists during that stretch. For the season, the 19-year-old is posting 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game and has emerged as a clear contender for Rookie of the Year.
It should be noted that if Flagg is to miss any extended time, it would create the runway for his former Duke Blue Devils teammate and current Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel to make a late season surge to steal the award away. The two have been neck and neck as the top viable candidates for the award all season.
Without Flagg, the Mavericks lose their primary offensive engine and emotional spark. This is not a minor rotation injury. It removes the player responsible for stabilizing a team that has already fallen six games behind the Western Conference's final Play-In spot.
Tanking Talk vs. Development Reality
The broader context complicates things. The NBA continues to wrestle with tanking optics, and Dallas' recent slide has fueled outside speculation. The Mavericks are not openly tanking, but their position in the standings creates incentive to prioritize long-term health over short-term wins.
Dallas has history here. The franchise once protected draft position that ultimately helped land key pieces such as Dereck Lively II. However, shelving Flagg for extended lottery strategy would contradict the organization's need to rebuild momentum after losing Luka Doncic and failing to sustain title contention.
Expect a balanced approach. If Flagg is healthy after the break, he will play. The Mavericks need development reps, fan optimism and proof that the rebuild has direction. Currently, if going just off the standings, they would be set to pick at No.7 in the 2026 NBA draft. A respectable place to make a selection in what is considered as a deep draft class. But it is also well understood around the league that their are three “crown jewels” amongst the group and falling out of that top three takes teams like Dallas out of the picture.
There is no guarantee that the Mavericks can or can’t jump into the top-3 with their current odds. Just look at how they landed Cooper Flagg to begin with. But also maximizing the opportunity to pair him with another blue chip prospect should be at the forefront of the organization’s goals in the post-Anthony Davis era.
For now, the league loses one of its brightest young stars during All-Star Weekend. Dallas loses its stabilizer. And the next seven days will determine whether this is merely a brief pause or something that shifts the trajectory of the Mavericks' season.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.