Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
October 2025
Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks) hurt his left shoulder in the opening minute of Game 2 of a back-to-back, finishing 1-for-9 for two points in a 101–94 loss. He’ll undergo scans Tuesday but expects to face Indiana. Rookie load management becomes focal as Dallas balances development with early-season competitiveness. Medical plan: pain-guided loading, scapular stability work, contact-progression testing, and short-term usage caps. Tactical hedge: lean on veteran handlers late, reduce on-ball strain, and script off-ball actions to keep Flagg impactful without heavy collisions. Monitoring waypoint: next back-to-back (Nov 7–8) for recurrence risk and tolerance under cumulative fatigue.