DALLAS, Texas — Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg has been chosen to compete in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars game during NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, the league announced Tuesday.
Flagg becomes the 13th player in franchise history to earn the honor and the third straight Maverick selected, following Dereck Lively II’s appearances the past two seasons. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke, Flagg has started all 43 games this season, averaging 18.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists while emerging as one of the NBA’s most productive rookies.
The 19-year-old ranks top three among rookies in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks — the only first-year player to do so — and has been a standout in late-game situations, ranking top 10 league-wide in clutch points, rebounds and assists.
Flagg has already made history this season, becoming the youngest player ever to score 40 points in a game with a 42-point performance at Utah on Dec. 15 and the youngest to record double-digit assists earlier in the year against the Lakers.
