Mavericks Face Uncertainty as Rookie Flagg Added to Injury Report

The Dallas Mavericks entered Wednesday still searching for stability, and their latest injury update added another layer of uncertainty. Rookie forward Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and one of the franchise’s brightest early-season contributors, was downgraded to questionable with an illness. The timing is difficult for a team already working through a 4–11 start and mounting health concerns.

Flagg had previously been listed as available despite wearing a splint on his right thumb, but the latest development creates doubt about his availability for Dallas’ nationally televised home game against the New York Knicks. The Mavericks, sitting 13th in the Western Conference, are in need of momentum and consistency — qualities that have been hard to come by as injuries and rotation changes persist.

Flagg last took the floor in Monday’s 120–96 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he showed flashes of promise with 15 points on efficient shooting. His early-season performances have been one of the few steady positives for Dallas, making any potential absence notable for both the team’s on-court production and its long-term development plan.

As the Mavericks open a three-game homestand, the status of their young core will shape both their immediate competitiveness and the broader trajectory of a season already defined by challenges.

1. Flagg’s Impact Meets Early Adversity

Flagg’s questionable designation comes at a time when he has been steadily carving out his role as a foundational piece for Dallas. Through 15 games, the 18-year-old has averaged 15.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 33.7 minutes per contest. His shooting splits — 45.5% from the field and 29.3% from three — reflect both growing confidence and typical rookie adjustments. In Monday’s loss to Minnesota, Flagg continued to demonstrate offensive versatility. He converted 6 of 10 attempts, including 2 of 3 from beyond the arc, pairing smooth perimeter shooting with on-ball assertiveness. His defensive instincts have also shown early promise, highlighted by 1.3 steals per game. However, Dallas remains a team still searching for rhythm, and Flagg’s development has been one of the few stabilizing forces. An absence on Wednesday would remove a key playmaker and two-way presence from a rotation already thin on continuity. The Mavericks will monitor whether his illness subsides before tipoff, but the uncertainty underscores how reliant the team has become on its teenage forward, both in short-term execution and long-term planning.

2. Lively Nearing Return but Minutes Still Monitored

While Flagg’s status clouds the team’s outlook, the Mavericks could receive reinforcements in the form of center Dereck Lively II, who has been listed as probable due to right knee injury management. Lively, 21, has played in only five games this season and remains on a cautious ramp-up plan. In his most recent appearance — a 138–133 overtime win against Portland — Lively contributed modestly in limited minutes, adding two points, three rebounds, two blocks, and one assist. His activity around the rim and defensive timing remain strengths, but conditioning and availability continue to be areas of focus. Across his five outings, Lively has averaged 4.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks while shooting an efficient 64.3% from the field. Those numbers point to a valuable interior presence when healthy, particularly for a Dallas team seeking stability in the paint. Even if Lively suits up Wednesday, the Mavericks are expected to manage his workload carefully. His gradual reintegration adds another variable to a rotation already affected by injuries, illness, and inexperience.

3. A Challenging Start Meets Critical Stretch

The Mavericks’ early-season struggles have placed heightened importance on maintaining whatever continuity they can muster. At 4–11, Dallas sits among the West’s bottom tier and continues to experiment with lineups to find reliable combinations. The potential absence of Flagg — paired with limited availability from players like Lively — makes that task even more difficult. Despite flashes of competitiveness, the team has often struggled defensively and with late-game execution. Flagg’s high minutes load reflects both his talent and the franchise’s reliance on its young core to anchor the rebuild. Any disruption could influence both performance and development. This week’s three-game homestand offers a chance to reset, but injuries threaten to complicate the opportunity. As the Mavericks host the Knicks before matchups later in the week, monitoring the health of their top prospects will remain a central storyline. For now, Dallas continues to balance long-term growth with the pursuit of short-term improvement — a delicate equation made more challenging by uncertain availability across the roster.