Cooper Flagg wins NBA Rookie of the Year in close vote over Kon Knueppel
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Dallas Mavericks first overall pick Cooper Flagg has been named the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year, resulting in an excitingly close vote.
Flagg narrowly defeated fellow Duke Blue Devils star Charlotte Hornets sharpshooter Kon Knueppel, who came three picks after Flagg in last year’s draft and received 56 first-place votes compared to Knueppel’s 44. Thus, Flagg finished the race with a total of 412 votes to Knueppel’s 386.
Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe took third place with 96 points (93 third-place votes), while Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs and Cedric Coward of the Memphis Grizzlies also took third place.
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Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg controls the ball in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 30, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Gareth Patterson/AP Photo)
Flagg became the second-youngest actor to win the award; The 19-year-old was right behind Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James.
For much of the season, it looked like Knueppel would win the award, but numerous voters publicly said Knueppel’s Play-In Tournament struggles had influenced them to change their minds for Flagg.
MAVERICKS’ COOPER FLAGG ADMITS HIS Rookie SEASON WAS ‘MENTALLY CHALLENGING’ AMONG THE TEAM’S STRUGGLES
At the beginning of the tournament, in the match where the Hornets beat the Miami Heat 127-126 in overtime, Knueppel could only score six points by shooting 2/12 in 34 minutes. Then, in a 121-90 loss to the Orlando Magic, he scored 11 points on 3/11 shooting (also 4/5 from the free throw line) and recorded minus-26 points while on the court.
Flagg said he was interested in what Knueppel did throughout the year and showed love for his fellow rookie.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg watches from the bench during the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on April 3, 2026. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)
“I watch the games every night. I can check the scores,” he said, according to ESPN, noting that he watches Knueppel’s stat lines closely. “I guess I was only watching Kon because he was one of my brothers.
“We had such a good bond and we’ll be there for each other for the rest of our lives. I was watching it as a fan too, but there was obviously rivalry as well.”
Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game for the Mavericks this year. These numbers put him among the best in the NBA; Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Luka Doncic were the only rookies Before Flagg, Michael Jordan and Luka Doncic were the only rookies since the NBA-ABA merger to average at least 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, according to ESPN. Flagg also led all rookies in scoring this season.
Knueppel, on the other hand, played with 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, but Flagg beat him in these categories and broke the rookie 3-point record with 273. That number led the NBA this season as well. Knueppel also played a key role in the Hornets entering the Play-In Tournament, finishing with a 44-38 record before being eliminated by the Magic.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg dribbles during the second half of an NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 5, 2026 in Dallas. (LM Otero/AP)
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Flagg and the Mavs didn’t fare very well this season, finishing 26-56, but he did lead the team in points, rebounds and assists this season. Despite the losses, Flagg continued to show that age does not matter, becoming the youngest player to play a match with 35, 40, 45 and 50 points.
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