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It’s no secret that Cooper Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks’ No. 1 overall pick who won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, was part of the league’s All-Rookie first team that came out Wednesday night.
But other bright, young stars in the NBA were named along with him.
Charlotte Hornets’ Kon Knueppel, Flagg’s Duke Blue Devils college teammate and runner-up for the Rookie of the Year Award, as well as the Philadelphia 76ers’ VJ Edgecombe were also named unanimous All-Rookie First Team members along with Flagg by vote count.
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Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg dribbles during the second half of an NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Dallas on April 5, 2026. (LM Otero/AP)
The first team was rounded out by San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper and Memphis Grizzlies guard Cedric Coward. All five players received votes for this year’s Rookie of the Year Award.
100 ballots had been counted for the teams, and Harper was seven votes short of another unanimous selection. He had seven second-team votes, while Coward had 29 first-team votes and 67 second-team votes for a total of 125 points.
COOPER FLAGG WINS NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AFTER KON KNUEPPEL’S PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT BATTLES REGULAR VOTERS
Flagg narrowly beat Knueppel, who went to the Hornets three picks after his Duke teammate, earning 56 first-place votes compared to Knueppel’s 44 in that tally. Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe finished third with 96 points (93 third-place votes), while San Antonio Spurs’ Dylan Harper and Memphis Grizzlies’ Cedric Coward also received third-place votes.
Flagg is the second-youngest player ever to win the award, trailing only the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James at 19.
For most of the season, it looked like Knueppel would win the award, but several voters came out publicly and said Knueppel’s Play-In Tournament games meant they changed their minds about Flagg.
Knueppel had just six points on 2-of-12 shooting in 34 minutes during the Hornets’ electric 127-126 overtime win over the Miami Heat in the tournament opener. Then, in the 121-90 loss to the Orlando Magic, he shot 3 of 11 for 11 points (also 4 of 5 from the free throw line) and posted a minus-26 while on the court.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg watches from the bench during the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on April 3, 2026. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)
Flagg noted that he was keen on what Knueppel did throughout the year, showing love to his new freshman.
“I watch the games every night. I can check the box scores,” he said of watching Knueppel’s stat lines closely, according to ESPN. “I think I saw Kon too, just because it’s one of my brothers.
“We had such a great connection and we’ll be there for each other for the rest of our lives. I saw him as a fan too, but obviously there was that competition at the same time.”
Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game this year for the Mavericks. Those numbers had him among some NBA greats, as Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Luka Doncic were the only rookies before Flagg to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists since the NBA-ABA merger, ESPN pointed out. Flagg also led all rookies in scoring this season.
As for Knueppel, he dropped 18.5 points per game with 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists, but while Flagg had him beat in those categories, he tied the rookie 3-pointer record with 273. That number also led the NBA this season. Knueppel was also a key piece in the Hornets getting into the Play-In Tournament to begin with, finishing 44-38 before being eliminated by the Magic.
But none of them are still in the NBA Playoffs, as Harper has excelled alongside his Spurs teammates, notably Victor Wembanyama, the NBA’s Rookie of the Year two seasons ago, and Stephon Castle, the Rookie of the Year during the 2024-25 campaign.
San Antonio Spurs combo guard Dylan Harper shoots a 3-pointer over Portland Trail Blazers PG Jrue Holiday at the Moda Center. (Jaime Valdez-Imagn photos)
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Edgecombe was also instrumental in the 76ers toppling the Boston Celtics in a first-round shocker, coming back from a 3–1 deficit to win the series in Game 7. Unfortunately for Edgecombe and his teammates, the New York Knicks swept them in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The All-Rookie second team consists of New Orleans Pelicans’ Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears, Sacramento Kings’ Maxime Raynaud, Utah Jazz’s Ace Bailey and Toronto Raptors’ Collin Murray-Boyles.
