Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg has missed the team’s last seven games with a foot injury, but could be nearing a return for their upcoming contest against the Charlotte Hornets.
According to Grant Afseth of the Dallas Hoops Journal, the latest Flagg injury update points to a potential return against the Hornets and Rookie of the Year competition, Kon Knueppel, as he was recently upgraded on the team’s injury report from out to doubtful.
“The Dallas Mavericks upgraded Cooper Flagg on the injury report for the first time since he sustained a left midfoot sprain in February,” he wrote in a post on X.
The news of a potential Flagg injury return comes the day after NBA insider March Stein reported that the star rookie is making progress on his foot injury, and could come back for the Mavericks sometime in the near future.
In 49 games this season, Flagg is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 48.2% shooting.
Cooper Flagg Injury Update, Mavericks Injury Report
Flagg had missed a few games earlier in the season with an ankle and back injury, but the foot injury has held him out for the longest stretch of his rookie season.
It is still uncertain whether he will play on Tuesday against the Hornets, as he is currently listed as doubtful on the Mavericks’ injury report.
“To be clear, Cooper Flagg is still doubtful to play in Charlotte. He was upgraded from out. While that is progress, it is still unlikely that he’ll be able to play,” Afseth wrote in a separate post.
However, his reporting comes after Stein wrote in his Substack that Dallas head coach Jason Kidd hinted at a return on Tuesday being unlikely, but it couldn’t be ruled out.
“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,” Stein wrote. “But stay tuned.”
“Hearing some optimism in Dallas that Cooper Flagg is nearing a return from the midfoot sprain that has sidelined him for the past seven games,” he added in a post on X.
Hours before tipoff, it is still uncertain whether Flagg will return to action for the Mavericks.
Klay Thompson and P.J. Washington are both listed as questionable for the game, while Caleb Martin is probable, and Marvin Bagley, Naji Marshall, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively will all be out.
The Cooper Flagg-Kon Knueppel Rookie of the Year Race Odds
Flagg was previously the heavy favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award for 2025-26 both before the year and a decent chunk into the season.
However, with Knueppel’s incredible recent stretch, setting rookie three-point shooting records, as well as the hot run the Hornets have been on over the past two months, he’s since overtaken Flagg with the best odds to win the Rookie of the Year award. With Flagg out for a stretch with the foot injury, his odds to win the award have also slipped, despite his strong play throughout the season.
According to the DraftKings SportsBook, Knueppel is the favorite at -175 to win the award, while Flagg is the underdog at +140, with V.J. Edgecombe far behind at +10,000.
Should Flagg return from his foot injury on Tuesday against Charlotte, or sometime soon after, it is fair to say he’ll give his former Duke teammate and roommate in Knueppel a run for his money at the Rookie of the Year award.
But until then, the Hornets’ wing is the rightful favorite for the award, as his 19.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 60 games on 48.9/44/87.8 shooting splits are hard to beat.
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