Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg cleared up any lingering questions regarding his thumb injury on Tuesday, reassuring reporters that he’s fully available despite still appearing on the injury list. Flagg has worn a splint on his right thumb for several weeks, but he has continued to play through it and has barely missed any action.
Flagg has appeared in 24 of the Maverick’s first 25 matchups this season, which makes the injury designation stand out – but he emphasized it’s nothing that limits him.
“I feel healthy for sure, I’m good to go,” Flagg said after practice. He acknowledged that some physical discomfort comes with the long NBA schedule but stressed that his situation is more of a maintenance precaution than a setback.
‘With the amount of games we play, there’s always going to be nagging things… Obviously I’ve had stuff with my thumb going on, but I’m good to go. There’s always gonna be something you have to deal with. That’s just part of being mentally and physically tough.’
Thumb issue not affecting playing time or production
Dallas hasn’t treated the injury as a major concern, and Flagg’s results on the floor reflect that. Through the early portion of his rookie campaign, the 18 year old has averaged 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 streaks per game. He is also shooting 47.5 percent from the field, showing continued confidence despite adjusting to an NBA pace and schedule.
The Mavericks have allowed him to play through the minor thumb issue while still monitoring it during practices and workouts. The splint remains, but his availability hasn’t changed, and he has handled significant minutes in recent outings.
Flagg continues growing in rookie season
Like most first-year players, Flagg has experienced stretches of inconsistency– something expected for an 18-year-old learning the league in real time. Even so, the Mavericks have praised his maturity, effort and willingness to compete through minor injuries.
The team enters a lighter portion of the schedule, giving Flagg a few days of downtime before Dallas returns to action Friday. That break alone should provide additional rest and allow training staff to evaluate his hand again before the next game.
While updates will continue to appear on game reports, Flagg made it clear that his thumb isn’t preventing him from being himself. For now, the rookie remains active, productive and comfortable with playing through minor discomfort, and Dallas has no indication that the issue will lead to missed games.
As Flagg continues to adjust, his early production signals a promising start to his NBA career – splint or not.
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