{"id":32023,"date":"2026-03-05T18:20:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T23:20:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/mavericks-rookie-cooper-flagg-cleared-to-play-after-8-game-injury-absence\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T18:20:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T23:20:18","slug":"mavericks-rookie-cooper-flagg-cleared-to-play-after-8-game-injury-absence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/mavericks-rookie-cooper-flagg-cleared-to-play-after-8-game-injury-absence\/","title":{"rendered":"Mavericks Rookie Cooper Flagg Cleared to Play After 8-Game Injury Absence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Dallas Mavericks have received medical clearance for forward Cooper Flagg to return from his left midfoot sprain, with the rookie suiting up for Thursday night’s matchup against the Orlando Magic.<\/p>

The 19-year-old first-year player will make his comeback after being sidelined for eight consecutive games. Flagg, who was selected first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, took part in portions of Tuesday’s practice session and saw his status improve from doubtful on Tuesday to questionable heading into Thursday’s contest.<\/p>

Team officials plan to limit Flagg’s playing time as he transitions back to full game action while continuing his recovery process.<\/p>

According to ESPN, the Mavericks are contemplating having Flagg participate in Friday’s road game in Boston, which would mark a homecoming of sorts for the Newport, Maine native who cheered for the Celtics growing up.<\/p>

Dallas head coach Jason Kidd discussed the rookie’s progress earlier this week, stating: “He’s ramping up. Everything is going well. [Tuesday] was to kind of get back in his routine and hopefully as we go on this road trip he can get in and play a game or two.”<\/p>

The injury occurred during Dallas’s February 10th road defeat against the Phoenix Suns, forcing Flagg to miss the Rising Stars showcase during All-Star Weekend festivities.<\/p>

Following an impressive single season at Duke that culminated in a Final Four appearance, Flagg is positioned to join an elite group of NBA rookies. He’s on track to become only the fourth first-year player since the ABA-NBA merger to post averages of at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists, joining Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Luka Doncic in that exclusive company.<\/p>

Through 49 games as a starter entering Thursday’s action, Flagg has compiled impressive statistics of 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per contest.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has been medically cleared to return from a left midfoot sprain and will play Thursday against Orlando. The 19-year-old rookie, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, will be on a minutes restriction as he works back to full health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":32022,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[836],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1772752804192.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-8kv","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":32087,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/mavericks-rookie-cooper-flagg-returns-after-8-game-injury-absence\/","url_meta":{"origin":32023,"position":0},"title":"Mavericks Rookie Cooper Flagg Returns After 8-Game Injury Absence","author":"Admin","date":"March 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg is set to return to the starting lineup Thursday night against Orlando after being sidelined for eight games with a foot injury. The 19-year-old Duke product, who was the top pick in last year's NBA draft, leads all rookies in scoring this season.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1772761678553.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1772761678553.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1772761678553.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1772761678553.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58375,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/dallas-mavericks-cooper-flagg-edges-out-former-teammate-for-nba-rookie-of-year\/","url_meta":{"origin":32023,"position":1},"title":"Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg Edges Out Former Teammate for NBA Rookie of Year","author":"Admin","date":"April 27, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has been named the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year in one of the closest votes in recent history. The 19-year-old narrowly defeated his former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets by just 26 points in the voting.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777339367001.jpg?fit=450%2C299&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":47681,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/mavericks-rookie-cooper-flagg-scores-45-points-in-victory-over-injury-depleted-lakers\/","url_meta":{"origin":32023,"position":2},"title":"Mavericks Rookie Cooper Flagg Scores 45 Points in Victory Over Injury-Depleted Lakers","author":"Admin","date":"April 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg delivered another spectacular performance with 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in a 134-128 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The victory came just days after Flagg became the youngest NBA player ever to score 50 points in a game.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775460124672.jpg?fit=450%2C284&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":51079,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/dallas-mavericks-top-draft-pick-cooper-flagg-suffers-ankle-injury-in-season-finale\/","url_meta":{"origin":32023,"position":3},"title":"Dallas Mavericks’ Top Draft Pick Cooper Flagg Suffers Ankle Injury in Season Finale","author":"Admin","date":"April 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Cooper Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks' first overall draft selection, sustained an ankle sprain during Sunday's season finale against Chicago, cutting short his impressive rookie campaign. The 19-year-old phenom is currently competing for Rookie of the Year honors with former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776047870468.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776047870468.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776047870468.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776047870468.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":69742,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nba-rookie-of-the-year-flagg-headlines-all-rookie-first-team\/","url_meta":{"origin":32023,"position":4},"title":"NBA Rookie of the Year Flagg Headlines All-Rookie First Team","author":"Admin","date":"May 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, who was named NBA Rookie of the Year, leads the All-Rookie first team announced Wednesday. Flagg narrowly beat Charlotte's Kon Knueppel for the top rookie honor, receiving 56 first-place votes to Knueppel's 44.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779326595909.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":47103,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/dallas-rookie-cooper-flagg-makes-history-with-51-point-performance-as-first-teen\/","url_meta":{"origin":32023,"position":5},"title":"Dallas Rookie Cooper Flagg Makes History with 51-Point Performance as First Teen","author":"Admin","date":"April 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg became the first teenager in NBA history to score 50 points in a game, dropping 51 in a loss to Orlando. The 19-year-old's historic night came after his coach and teammate were ejected defending him on a controversial no-call.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775280994865.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775280994865.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775280994865.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775280994865.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32023","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32023"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32023\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32022"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}