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

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

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

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

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

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

For astir of the season, it appeared Knueppel was going to triumph the 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 the Hornets’ electrical 127-126 overtime triumph implicit the Miami Heat astatine the commencement of the tournament. Then, successful the 121-90 nonaccomplishment to the Orlando Magic, helium changeable 3 of 11 for 11 points (4 of 5 from the free-throw enactment arsenic well), and helium posted a minus-26 portion connected the court.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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