Major Mavericks Shift Helps Cooper Flagg Remain NBA’s No. 1 Rookie

['Derek Hryn', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] Heavy Sports 2026-01-28 20:08:22

Into late January, Dallas Mavericks’ 2025 No. When the NBA announced the Castrol Rising Stars player pool earlier this week, Flagg was again in the spotlight. The Rising Stars format mirrors the same challenge facing voters and analysts all season — narrowing a deep rookie class to a short list. Mavericks’ December Role Adjustment Elevated Flagg’s ImpactEarly in the season, injuries forced head coach Jason Kidd and the Mavericks to experiment with Flagg as a primary initiator. Philadelphia’s Edgecombe continues to stuff the stat sheet, while several lottery picks hover just outside the Rising Stars field.