Cooper Flagg

Dallas Mavericks rookie phenom Cooper Flagg will return to the lineup Thursday night to take on the Charlotte Hornets.

Dallas Mavericks rookie phenom Cooper Flagg will return to the lineup on Thursday night when they take on the Charlotte Hornets.

Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving didn't play in that 118-105 loss to Minnesota and might not be in a Mavericks uniform on the same night again while it was a temporary injury absence for four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson and Cooper Flagg, the rookie No. 1 pick who landed in Dallas by crazy luck and is seen as the next face of the franchise after Doncic. Days shy of a year since the Mavs shipped their global superstar to the Los Angeles Lakers for Davis and rocked the core of a team that was just nine months removed from playing in the NBA Finals, Washington's hope for a return to contention rests with those four teammates being healthy alongside him.

Cooper Flagg (ankle) will return for the Mavericks, but Marshall is going to miss the second game back the back-to-back. P.J. Washington should move into the starting lineup in his place and could be in for a solid game.

Latest NBA Rookie of the Year odds and favorites for the 2025-26 season, with Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel the clear favorites.