Cooper Flagg wins NBA Rookie of the Year after Kon Knueppel's Play-In Tournament struggles swayed voters

Dallas Mavericks first wide prime Cooper Flagg was named nan 2025-26 NBA Rookie of nan Year, and it was a thrillingly adjacent ballot successful nan end.

Flagg narrowly hit retired Charlotte Hornets’ sharpshooter Kon Knueppel, his chap Duke Blue Devils prima who went 3 picks later than Flagg successful past year’s draft, earning 56 first-place votes compared to Knueppel’s 44. So, Flagg vanished pinch 412 full ballot points to Knueppel’s 386.

Philadelphia 76ers defender VJ Edgecombe vanished successful 3rd spot pinch 96 points (93 third-place votes), while San Antonio Spurs’ Dylan Harper and Memphis Grizzlies Cedric Coward besides sewage third-place votes.

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Dallas Mavericks guardant Cooper Flagg controls nan shot successful nan 2nd half against nan Minnesota Timberwolves successful Dallas, Texas, connected March 30, 2026. (Gareth Patterson/AP Photo)

Flagg marked nan second-youngest subordinate to ever triumph nan award, arsenic nan 19-year-old was only down Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James.

For astir of nan season, it appeared Knueppel was going to triumph nan award, but aggregate voters came retired publically and said Knueppel’s Play-In Tournament struggles factored into them changing their minds for Flagg.

MAVERICKS' COOPER FLAGG ADMITS ROOKIE SEASON HAS BEEN 'MENTALLY TAXING' AMID THE TEAM'S STRUGGLES

Knueppel had conscionable six points connected 2-of-12 shooting successful 34 minutes during nan Hornets’ electrical 127-126 overtime triumph complete nan Miami Heat astatine nan commencement of nan tournament. Then, successful nan 121-90 nonaccomplishment to nan Orlando Magic, he changeable 3 of 11 for 11 points (4 of 5 from nan free-throw statement arsenic well), and he posted a minus-26 while connected nan court.

Flagg noted being keen connected what Knueppel was doing during nan year, showing emotion to his chap rookie.

Dallas Mavericks guardant Cooper Flagg watches from nan chair during nan 2nd 4th against nan Orlando Magic astatine nan American Airlines Center successful Dallas, Texas, connected April 3, 2026. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

"I spot nan games every  night. I tin cheque nan container scores," he said astir watching Knueppel’s stat lines closely, per ESPN. "I deliberation besides I was watching Kon conscionable because that’s 1 of my brothers.

"We had specified a bully connection, and we’re gonna beryllium location for each different for nan remainder of our lives. I was watching him arsenic a fan, arsenic well, but location was evidently that title astatine nan aforesaid time."

Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per crippled this twelvemonth for nan Mavericks. Those numbers had him among immoderate NBA greats, arsenic Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Luka Doncic were nan only rookiesMichael Jordan and Luka Doncic were nan only rookies earlier Flagg to mean astatine slightest 20 points, six rebounds and 4 assists since nan NBA-ABA merger, ESPN pointed out. Flagg besides led each rookies successful scoring this season.

As for Knueppel, he dropped 18.5 points per crippled pinch 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists, but while Flagg had him hit successful those categories, he reset nan rookie 3-pointers made grounds pinch 273. That number besides led nan NBA this season. Knueppel was besides a cardinal portion successful nan Hornets getting into nan Play-In Tournament to statesman with, finishing 44-38 earlier being eliminated by nan Magic.

Dallas Mavericks guardant Cooper Flagg dribbles during nan 2nd half of an NBA crippled against nan Los Angeles Lakers successful Dallas connected April 5, 2026. (LM Otero/AP)

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Flagg and nan Mavs didn’t fare excessively good this season, finishing 26-56, though he led nan squad successful scoring, rebounding and assists this season. Despite nan losses, Flagg continued to show that property didn’t matter, becoming nan youngest subordinate to ever person games pinch 35, 40, 45 and 50 points.

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