Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg will not participate in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game but will showcase his talents during the NBA All-Star Weekend in the Castrol Rising Stars event. This event features the league’s top rookies and sophomore players, giving them a platform to impress fans and scouts ahead of the main All-Star Game.
Flagg was chosen as one of 10 rookies for the Rising Stars competition and was the first pick in the Rising Stars draft by NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony. He will play on Team Melo alongside fellow rookies Stephon Castle, Reed Sheppard, Dylan Harper, Jeremiah Fears, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Donovan Clingan. The Rising Stars event will take place on Friday, kicking off the All-Star Weekend festivities.
Strong rookie season statistics underline Cooper Flagg’s rise
The No. 1 pick of the 2025 NBA draft, Cooper Flagg has demonstrated significant growth throughout his rookie season. In his first 20 games with the Mavericks, he averaged 16.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. More recently, over his last 28 games, those numbers have improved to 22.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, showing his increasing impact on the court.
Inglewood hosts the 75th NBA All-Star Weekend
The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, marking the league’s 75th celebration, will be held in Southern California, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. This arena, home of the LA Clippers, will be hosting the event for the first time. Scheduled from Friday to Sunday, the weekend’s crown jewel—the NBA All-Star Game—is set for Sunday, marking the seventh occasion the Los Angeles area has welcomed this showcase of basketball’s elite talent.
Jaylen Brown commends Cooper Flagg’s outstanding performances
Following a standout performance against the Boston Celtics, Cooper Flagg earned praise from Celtics star Jaylen Brown during a Twitch stream. Brown acknowledged Flagg’s talent and impact on the game, highlighting his youth and scoring ability.
“My boy is him. He’s got my respect for sure…He scored 30 on us on all floaters,” Brown said. “For a 19-year-old? Spectacular.” – Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics star
In that game, Flagg scored 36 points, marking his third consecutive game with 30 or more points despite the Mavericks’ loss. Brown led Boston with 33 points and 11 rebounds in a double-double effort. Flagg also scored over 30 points in a recent 135-123 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to post four straight 30-point games.
He joined rare company as the first rookie since Michael Jordan in 1985 to amass four consecutive games with 30+ points and 5+ rebounds, and the first rookie since Allen Iverson in 1997 to score over 150 points in any four-game stretch, underscoring his remarkable scoring ability early in his career.
Looking ahead to Cooper Flagg’s rising NBA journey
Although Cooper Flagg will miss the NBA All-Star Game itself, his participation in the Rising Stars event offers a glimpse into his bright future in the league. With impressive performances boosting his profile, his continued growth could soon earn him full All-Star recognition. Meanwhile, the 2026 All-Star Weekend at the Intuit Dome not only celebrates the league’s top talent but also highlights the growing importance of young stars like Flagg in shaping the NBA’s future.
So many replies last week were suggesting that Jaylen Brown had some beef with Cooper Flagg.
Brown said otherwise on his stream:
“My boy is him. He’s got my respect for sure…He scored 30 on us on all floaters.”
“For a 19-year-old? Spectacular.”
(Via @FCHWPO on Twitch) https://t.co/CToFdRpsb2 pic.twitter.com/NKxtqPJqP3
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) February 10, 2026
