Updated March 2, 2026, 4:34 p.m. ET
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg has missed seven consecutive games due to a left midfoot sprain.There is growing optimism that Flagg is nearing a return to the court.Coach Jason Kidd has indicated Flagg will likely not play Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets.Before his injury, Flagg was averaging a team-high 20.4 points per game.
Cooper Flagg has missed seven straight games since suffering a left midfoot sprain on Feb. 10 against the Phoenix Suns, but his diagnosis is looking better than ever, signaling that a return to the court for the star rookie could come sooner than later.
“There is some rising optimism in Dallas that Cooper Flagg is nearing a return from a midfoot sprain that has sidelined him for the past seven games dating to Feb. 10,” Marc Stein reported.
With Flagg’s Mavericks going up against the Charlotte Hornets and former teammate and roommate Kon Knueppel on Tuesday evening, some were hoping that they would see the two favorites for the NBA Rookie of the Year award face off, but that is out, according to Mavericks’ head coach Jason Kidd.
“Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has already announced that Flagg playing Tuesday in Charlotte in another Rookie of the Year showdown against the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel is ‘probably not’ in play … but stay tuned,” Stein reported.
Before suffering the injury, Flagg was averaging a team-leading 20.4 points per game, while also putting up 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
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If things go well, Flagg’s return could come on Thursday when the Mavericks travel to Orlando to battle the Magic.