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Cooper Flagg’s injury replacement has been named for NBA All-Star weekend

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Feb 12, 2026 12:58 PM ET

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg did not make the All-Star team, but he was set to participate in the Rising Stars Game during All-Star weekend.

On Wednesday, it was revealed that Flagg has a left mid-foot sprain, which means he will miss Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers and he won’t play in the Rising Stars Game. On Thursday, the NBA named Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey as Flagg’s replacement.

Jazz forward Ace Bailey will replace fellow rookie Cooper Flagg of the Mavericks on Team Melo in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars (2/13, 9 PM ET, Peacock).

Flagg is out with a foot sprain.

Rising Stars: Friday, Feb. 13 | 9 PM ET | Peacock pic.twitter.com/785ptn5UMb
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 12, 2026

Flagg is having an excellent rookie year, averaging 20.4 points with 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

Flagg just played 36 minutes in Tuesday’s loss against the Phoenix Suns, so the injury is a new one, but he is expected to return after the All-Star break.

Bailey, who played his lone college season at Rutgers, was the 5th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Bailey is averaging 11.6 points with 3.8 rebounds per game this season, but he has five straight games with double digits in scoring entering Thursday.

Flagg was on Team Melo, and Bailey now replaces the Mavs star and reunites with former Rutgers star and San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper.

The Rising Stars Game will take place on Friday at 9 p.m. ET at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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