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Dallas Mavericks first overall pick Cooper Flagg was named the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year, and it was an exciting vote in the end.
Flagg narrowly beat out Charlotte Hornets sharpshooter Kon Knueppel, his fellow Duke Blue Devils star who went three picks later than Flagg in last year’s draft, earning 56 first-place votes compared to Knueppel’s 44. So Flagg finished with 412 total voting points to Knueppel’s 386.
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.
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Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg controls the ball during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Dallas, Texas on March 30, 2026. (Gareth Patterson/AP Photo)
Flagg marked the second-youngest player ever to win the award, as the 19-year-old was behind only the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James.
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.
MAVERICKS’ COOPER FLAGG ADMITS ROOKIE SEASON HAS BEEN ‘MENTALLY STRESSING’ AMID TEAM’S STRUGGLE
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.
Flagg noted that he was keen on what Knueppel did throughout the year, showing love to his new freshman.
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)
“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 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.
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)
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Flagg and the Mavs didn’t fare too well this season, finishing 26-56, although he led the team in scoring, rebounds and assists this season. Despite the losses, Flagg continued to show that age didn’t matter, becoming the youngest player ever to score 35, 40, 45 and 50 points.
