Mavs' Cooper Flagg suffers ankle injury in season finale

Rookie standout exits early with sprain, expected to recover over offseason

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:19am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a basketball player's jump shot broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy, green, and orange, conceptually representing an ankle injury disrupting a promising rookie campaign.A cubist interpretation of a young NBA star's ankle injury, reflecting the fragmented nature of his rookie season.Chicago Today

Cooper Flagg, the Mavericks' highly touted rookie and leading Rookie of the Year candidate, suffered a left ankle sprain in the final game of the season against the Chicago Bulls. He played just 10 minutes before exiting the game and will not return.

Why it matters

Flagg has had an impressive debut campaign, establishing himself as one of the league's rising young stars. His early exit due to injury raises concerns about his health heading into the offseason, but the Mavericks are optimistic he will make a full recovery in time for next season.

The details

Flagg, the 5th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has averaged 15.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game this season. He and Duke teammate Kon Knueppel have been the frontrunners for Rookie of the Year honors. Flagg's ankle injury occurred in the second quarter when he landed awkwardly after a drive to the basket.

  • Flagg left the game in the 2nd quarter on April 13, 2026.
  • The Mavericks' final regular season game was on April 13, 2026.

The players

Cooper Flagg

The Mavericks' highly touted rookie and leading Rookie of the Year candidate.

Kon Knueppel

Flagg's former Duke teammate and fellow Rookie of the Year contender.

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What they’re saying

“Flagg played just 10 minutes in the final game of his rookie season. He ends the year the betting favorite to win Rookie of the Year over his former teammate at Duke in Kon Knueppel. He should only improve heading into next season.”

— Ari Koslow, Mavericks Correspondent

What’s next

The Mavericks will provide an update on the severity of Flagg's ankle injury in the coming days. If it's a minor sprain, he should have plenty of time to recover over the offseason and be ready for training camp.

The takeaway

Despite the disappointing end to his rookie campaign, Flagg has firmly established himself as one of the league's most promising young talents. The Mavericks will look to build around him and Kon Knueppel as they aim to contend in the Western Conference next season.