‘It’s Doing OK’: Cooper Flagg Playing Through Thumb Injury As Dallas Mavericks Continue To Battle

Grant AfsethNovember 12, 2025November 12, 2025no comment

Photo by Nick White/DallasHoopsJournal.com

Cooper Flagg may only be 18 years old, but his resilience is already showing. Listed as available on Monday’s injury report with a right thumb sprain, the Dallas Mavericks forward brushed off the discomfort to post one of the best performances of his young career — 26 points and nine rebounds in a 116-114 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Flagg revealed postgame that the injury occurred in the Mavericks’ previous contest against the Washington Wizards when he caught his thumb on the rim during a dunk attempt.

“It’s okay,” Flagg said. “It happened last game when I went up to dunk and hit the rim. Just a sprained thumb, nothing crazy. It was a little painful, but I played through it.”

The injury didn’t stop him from attacking one of the league’s most physically dominant players. Late in the fourth quarter, Flagg went right at Giannis Antetokounmpo, spinning into contact and scoring through traffic — a move that drew praise from both teammates and his head coach.

“The first thing in my mind was, ‘I’m going to dunk on him,’ but it wasn’t happening,” Flagg said with a grin. “He’s huge, physical, strong. You’ve just got to challenge guys like that.”

Jason Kidd Praises Fearlessness

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd credited Flagg’s fearlessness and poise for keeping Dallas competitive throughout the game.

“He plays to win,” Kidd said. “No matter who’s in front of him, he’s going to challenge. Giannis had some blocks early, and you’re going to win some and lose some. That was a big-time play for us to go up.”

Flagg, who is averaging 15.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists through 11 games, continues to show a blend of confidence and maturity uncommon for a first-year player. Even with the thumb issue, he’s maintained an attacking mindset and embraced late-game responsibilities.

Finding Rhythm Amid Adversity

Flagg’s shooting touch has been a bright spot amid the Mavericks’ cold stretch from beyond the arc. Dallas ranks last in the league in three-point percentage (29.5%), but the young forward has compensated by generating downhill pressure and creating scoring opportunities inside the paint.

“I didn’t feel anything forced,” Flagg said. “We were organized, getting to what we wanted. It just felt like better flow, and I was comfortable letting things come to me.”

His performance against Milwaukee marked his third 20-point outing of the season and further solidified his role as one of the team’s primary creators, especially with Kyrie Irving still sidelined.

Staying Steady Through Early Struggles

For Flagg, navigating the Mavericks’ 3–8 start has required a shift in perspective. The losing is new territory for the Maine native, who dominated every level before arriving in the NBA.

“It’s tough,” Flagg admitted. “In high school and college, bad games are easier to shake off when your team wins. Now, you just have to clear it and move on. I know I haven’t always played to my standard, but all I can do is keep working, stay confident, and trust the reps.”

Kidd echoed that sentiment, noting the team’s growth despite the results.

“Every game is about trust and compete,” he said. “We’re building that trust and competing. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce your way, but you’ve got to trust each other and keep fighting.”

Looking Ahead

The Mavericks return home Wednesday to face the Phoenix Suns, hoping to end a stretch that has seen them drop eight of their last nine games. Flagg, listed as available with the thumb injury, is expected to remain in the starting lineup.

Anthony Davis (left calf strain) and Dereck Lively II (right knee sprain) are both questionable, while Danté Exum (right knee injury management) and Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery) remain out.

Despite the pain, Flagg has no plans to slow down.

“Maybe I’ll tape my thumb every game,” he said with a smirk. “I was able to play through it.”

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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