Cooper Flagg vs. Kon Knueppel ROTY Race Mirrors LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in 2004, Iman Shumpert Insists

Former NBA player Iman Shumpert compares the current Rookie of the Year race to the intense battle between LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony during the 2003-04 season.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 11:07pm

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The NBA has one of its most intriguing Rookie of the Year races in recent memory with Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. Both are posting spectacular numbers for first-year players, and former NBA player Iman Shumpert offered a unique perspective on how they differ, comparing the race to the intense battle between LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony during the 2003-04 season.

Why it matters

The Rookie of the Year race between Flagg and Knueppel is drawing comparisons to the classic battle between James and Anthony, two of the NBA's biggest stars. Shumpert's insights, as someone who played with both James and Anthony, provide valuable context on how the current race may unfold.

The details

Shumpert suggested that, unlike Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks, Knueppel and the Charlotte Hornets are in playoff contention, which could strengthen Knueppel's case. However, Anthony led the Denver Nuggets to the playoffs in his rookie year, while James did not with the Cleveland Cavaliers. James ultimately captured the award, finishing with averages of 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. Anthony placed as the runner-up, posting 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game for the playoff-bound Nuggets.

  • The 2003-04 NBA season was when LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony had their intense Rookie of the Year battle.
  • The current Rookie of the Year race between Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel is taking place in the 2026 NBA season.

The players

Cooper Flagg

A first-year player in the NBA who is posting spectacular numbers and is part of the current Rookie of the Year race.

Kon Knueppel

A first-year player in the NBA who is posting spectacular numbers and is part of the current Rookie of the Year race, playing for the Charlotte Hornets.

LeBron James

A former NBA player who won the Rookie of the Year award in the 2003-04 season, playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Carmelo Anthony

A former NBA player who was the runner-up for the Rookie of the Year award in the 2003-04 season, playing for the Denver Nuggets.

Iman Shumpert

A former NBA player who played with both LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony during his career, providing a unique perspective on the current Rookie of the Year race.

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What they’re saying

“I get that they have similar numbers, and then you have to say that Kon, man, is in a different position where they are in a win-now, and that's going to look a lot better, but all I'm going to say is when a race is like this, we've seen this similarly before, and… let's be consistent when we start talking about it, because we gave it to Bron-Bron.”

— Iman Shumpert, Former NBA Player

The takeaway

The current Rookie of the Year race between Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel is drawing comparisons to the classic battle between LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in 2003-04, with Iman Shumpert's insights providing valuable context on how the race may unfold. The players' team situations and playoff contention could be a key factor in determining the winner, just as it was over 20 years ago.