Former Maverick Dismisses Flagg's Rookie of the Year Chances

Chandler Parsons believes Kon Knueppel has a much stronger case for the award.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:40pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the different aspects of the players' performances and the debate around the Rookie of the Year award.The heated Rookie of the Year race between Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel is a study in contrasting styles and perspectives on player impact.Phoenix Today

Despite Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg's historic season, averaging 21.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 4.6 APG, former Maverick Chandler Parsons believes Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets has a stronger case for NBA Rookie of the Year. Parsons argues that Knueppel's impact on winning outweighs Flagg's superior individual stats.

Why it matters

The Rookie of the Year race has been a hotly debated topic all season, with Flagg and Knueppel emerging as the top contenders. Parsons' comments add fuel to the fire, as Mavs fans are likely to disagree with his assessment of their prized rookie.

The details

Flagg is leading the Mavericks in points, rebounds, assists, and steals, but Knueppel is leading the NBA in three-pointers made. Some will argue that Knueppel has had a much bigger impact on winning, but that has never really mattered to the Rookie of the Year vote. Parsons believes Knueppel's contributions to the Hornets' playoff push give him the edge over Flagg's individual brilliance.

  • The Mavericks have one game remaining in the regular season on Sunday against the Chicago Bulls.
  • Knueppel's final game will be on Sunday against the New York Knicks, which could have major Play-In Tournament implications for the Hornets.

The players

Cooper Flagg

A rookie forward for the Dallas Mavericks who is having a historic season, averaging 21.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 4.6 APG.

Kon Knueppel

A rookie guard for the Charlotte Hornets who is leading the NBA in three-pointers made and is in contention for the Rookie of the Year award.

Chandler Parsons

A former player for the Dallas Mavericks who is now a media personality and believes Knueppel has a stronger case for Rookie of the Year than Flagg.

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What they’re saying

“Cooper Flagg is the best player in this draft... but if I had a Rookie of the Year vote, it's Kon Knueppel's, and I don't think it's close.”

— Chandler Parsons, Former Dallas Mavericks Player

What’s next

The Rookie of the Year award will be announced after the conclusion of the regular season. Flagg and Knueppel's performances in their final games could sway the voters.

The takeaway

The debate over the Rookie of the Year award highlights the different ways in which voters and analysts evaluate player impact. While Flagg's individual stats are superior, Parsons believes Knueppel's contributions to winning basketball games give him the edge.