‘Just A Little Sore’: Cooper Flagg Details Shoulder Injury After Dallas Mavericks’ Loss Against Oklahoma City Thunder

Grant AfsethOctober 28, 2025October 28, 2025no comment

Nick White/DallasHoopsJournal.com

Cooper Flagg’s fourth NBA game came with a new kind of test — one that had little to do with talent and everything to do with endurance. The Dallas Mavericks rookie forward injured his left shoulder on the opening possession of Monday night’s 101–94 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, finishing with just two points on 1-of-9 shooting in 31 minutes.

It was a stark turnaround from the night before, when he scored 22 points in the team’s win over the Toronto Raptors.

Flagg appeared to sustain the injury while boxing out early in the first quarter and was visibly limited throughout the game. He wore a large wrap with heat on his left shoulder while on the bench and received treatment postgame.

Despite the discomfort, he remained in the lineup until head coach Jason Kidd opted to go with another group late in the fourth quarter as Dallas made a furious push to cut into a 22-point deficit.

“It was one of the first plays of the game,” Flagg said. “I think I got grabbed or hung up with someone’s arm and just felt something in my shoulder — a little pain after.”

Cooper Flagg Fighting Through Pain and Sitting Late

Dallas trailed by as many as 22 points before closing the gap to one with less than a minute remaining. Flagg checked out with 8:14 to play and re-entered only for a pair of late defensive possessions as the Mavericks tried to complete the comeback. He acknowledged that his shoulder felt sore throughout the night and admitted fatigue may have also played a role.

“One of the biggest differences between college and this level is being able to handle and prepare for back-to-backs physically,” Flagg said. “I felt a little flat, a little banged up, but you’ve got to find ways to play through it and still help the team.”

The 18-year-old said he understood Kidd’s decision to keep him on the bench for most of the final stretch.

“The way the game was going, we had a group out there that was doing really well and was on a run, so I see where Coach was at with that,” Flagg said. “And I mean, I was flat. I wasn’t myself. I wasn’t impacting the game at a high level, wasn’t doing the right stuff. So obviously, that’s an easy decision for Coach. He was just out there trying to win the game.”

Jason Kidd Praises Rookie’s Toughness

Kidd commended Flagg for continuing to play through the injury and maintaining his focus while supporting his teammates from the bench.

“He did a great job defensively with the group that got the stop — that’s one lesson learned,” Kidd said. “It just wasn’t his night tonight. He wasn’t on the floor, but he was cheering for his teammates. He also got hit early with the shoulder, so we went with someone else. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow — he’s sore, but he’s a tough kid.”

After the game, Flagg said he planned to get the shoulder checked and expected to be available when the Mavericks wrap up their homestand against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

“We’re going to probably get some scans or whatever, make sure everything’s all clean, but I feel like it’s just a little sore,” Flagg said. “Just want to keep an eye on it, ice it, do some rehab, and should be good to go.”

Through four games this season, Flagg has averaged 13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, showing early flashes of his potential while navigating the learning curve of his rookie campaign.

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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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‘Just A Little Sore’: Cooper Flagg Details Shoulder Injury After Dallas Mavericks’ Loss Against Oklahoma City Thunder