Cooper Flagg Is The ’25-26 NBA Rookie of the Year

by

Summary

  • Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, joining Michael Jordan as the only rookies to lead their teams in points, rebounds, assists, and steals
  • Runner-up Kon Knueppel set an NBA rookie record with 273 made three-pointers, helping the Charlotte Hornets secure a 44-win season and a play-in tournament berth
  • The final voting saw Flagg receive 412 total points and 56 first-place votes, edging Knueppel by a margin of just 26 points in the second-closest race in modern league history

Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks has been named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year for the 2025-2026 season, capping off an impressive first year in the league. The 19-year-old just edged out his former college teammate, Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets, in one of the closest Rookie of the Year races in over 20 years – the final vote count was only 26 points apart. Flagg lived up to the high expectations placed on him as the number one draft pick, and his performance throughout a challenging season earned him a place among the NBA’s best.

Despite playing for a team facing major challenges and missing key players like Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, the young player had an outstanding first season. He quickly became the team’s focal point, carrying a struggling Dallas squad that finished with a 26-56 record. He consistently delivered impressive performances, culminating in a remarkable late-season run where he scored a combined 96 points in just two games. This included a 51-point game against Orlando and a 45-point game against the Lakers, breaking scoring records for players his age and showing he has the potential to be one of the game’s all-time greats.

Luka Dončić of the Mavericks won the award, but rookie Brandon Knueppel had an incredible season with the Charlotte Hornets. He dramatically improved their offense, leading the league with 273 three-pointers made and shooting an impressive 42.5% from beyond the arc. Knueppel joined legends like Larry Bird and Paul Pierce as one of the few rookies to average at least 15 points and 5 rebounds while shooting over 40% from three-point range. His excellent shooting helped the Hornets win 25 more games than the previous season, finishing with 44 wins and earning a playoff spot. VJ Edgecombe of the 76ers finished third in the voting, and other promising rookies like Dylan Harper of the Spurs also received votes.

This game features a highly anticipated matchup between two players who used to play together in college, and it’s a perfect example of how young talent is now dominating the league. The fact that this player is only the second-youngest to ever win this award—after LeBron James—shows that a new generation of stars has arrived. Dallas now has a reliable, foundational player for years to come, and Charlotte has a valuable player who can shoot well from outside and speed up their team’s improvement.

Read More

2026-04-28 11:27