Jeff Teague Chooses Rookie of the Year: Not Cooper Flagg

Former NBA champion cites Kon Knueppel's tougher competition and bigger impact as reasons for his Rookie of the Year pick.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 6:47pm

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This NBA season has seen impressive performances from rookies, with most of the attention focused on Duke University teammates Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. Despite Cooper Flagg's strong all-around play for the Dallas Mavericks, former NBA champion Jeff Teague identified Charlotte Hornets' rookie Kon Knueppel as the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, citing Knueppel's accomplishments in a more competitive context.

Why it matters

The debate over the Rookie of the Year award highlights the different challenges and expectations these young players face, with Teague arguing that Knueppel's impact is more impressive given the Hornets' playoff push compared to the Mavericks' position outside of contention.

The details

Teague emphasized that Knueppel is competing in tough conditions with the Charlotte Hornets engaged in a serious playoff push, while Flagg's Mavericks are positioned outside of contention. This difference in team situations highlights the varying pressures and expectations these rookies face, making Knueppel's impact all the more significant.

  • On February 17, 2026, Jeff Teague discussed the Rookie of the Year race on his Club 520 show.

The players

Jeff Teague

A former NBA champion and current host of the Club 520 show, who has weighed in on the Rookie of the Year debate.

Cooper Flagg

A rookie for the Dallas Mavericks, who has been one of the leading candidates for the Rookie of the Year award.

Kon Knueppel

A rookie for the Charlotte Hornets, who Jeff Teague believes should be the Rookie of the Year over Cooper Flagg.

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What they’re saying

“I think Cooper Flagg's having a good rookie year, a phenomenal rookie year actually, but it comes with a lot of opportunity. The reason I think Kon Knueppel's year is better is because he's with some gunners, and he's not supposed to be doing what he's doing.”

— Jeff Teague, Former NBA champion and host of Club 520

What’s next

The debate over the Rookie of the Year award is ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether Kon Knueppel or Cooper Flagg will ultimately be chosen as the winner.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of considering the broader context and challenges faced by rookie players when evaluating their performances and impact on their teams. Teague's argument for Kon Knueppel over the more highly touted Cooper Flagg underscores the need to look beyond raw statistics and recognize the unique circumstances that shape a rookie's success.