Mavericks' brutal Cooper Flagg injury saga just took a scary turn

After Cooper Flagg suffered a left midfoot sprain against the Phoenix Suns on February 10, it was originally reported that he wasn't expected to miss any additional time after the All-Star break. He missed Dallas' final game before All-Star weekend against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 12, but he was supposed to return right after that.

Over two weeks later, Flagg still hasn't played — and his return doesn't seem close either.

Before the Mavericks' game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night, Jason Kidd was asked if he believes Flagg will be back on the floor in time for their game against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. Typically, Kidd will give a generic answer when asked about injuries. He'll just say that the player is "trending in the right direction," and leave it at that.

Cooper Flagg's absence just got extended again

But not Friday.

Kidd immediately said "probably not" when asked if Flagg would be back for that game against Charlotte. Interview Room No. 1 at the American Airlines Center immediately went silent.

No one in the room expected Flagg to be out for this long (or Kidd to give a revealing answer when asked about it), and it already seems like he's a guaranteed scratch for next Tuesday's game. Assuming that Flagg misses Sunday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Tuesday's game against Charlotte, he will have missed eight games in a row and would have sat out for exactly three weeks.

What once seemed like a minor foot sprain has turned into something more serious, and Mavericks fans are officially beginning to panic about their star rookie.

This worry began after Cooper Flagg was spotted in a walking boot at the Duke-Clemson game during the All-Star break, and it has only heightened since. Dallas' season has fallen apart even more with Flagg out of the lineup, and while the Mavericks aren't playing for a title, Flagg is playing for the biggest honor that an NBA rookie can receive, Rookie of the Year.

Why Cooper Flagg's injury could cost him Rookie of the Year

The Mavericks' game on Tuesday is so important because it was supposed to be the fans' second and final chance to see Flagg battle his college roommate, Kon Knueppel, during their rookie seasons. Their first game against one another was must-watch television, as Flagg erupted for 48 points while Knueppel poured in 34.

It was one of the best games of the year, and this seemed like it was the official moment that Flagg pulled away in the Rookie of the Year race from one of his closest friends. Everyone was talking about Flagg after this game, and it was his award to lose at that point.

Now, Flagg is in danger of being the Rookie of the Year runner-up behind Knueppel. Especially if he continues to miss time.

Why Dallas shouldn't rush Cooper Flagg back

The Mavericks have no reason to bring him back due to their dreadful positioning in the standings, and they need to be as cautious as possible before allowing him to make his return. Flagg's long-term health is far more important than him improving his odds to win Rookie of the Year, and his positioning in this race has already begun to slip away.

Despite this, next season is what really matters. Flagg hurting his foot even more in a meaningless game in February or March would be an absolute nightmare, and he needs to remain out until he is at 100 percent.

With Flagg missing this much time, the severity of his foot injury is worse than originally expected. Foot injuries aren't something to mess around with, as Mavericks fans know with Dereck Lively II, and he has gone from being day-to-day to a longer-term absence from Dallas' lineup.