Kon Knueppel Deserves NBA Rookie of the Year Over Cooper Flagg

Advanced analytics show Knueppel had greater overall impact on his team's success this season

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:11pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game in a fractured, geometric style, with the players' forms broken down into abstract shapes and planes of color, conveying the analytical nature of evaluating the NBA Rookie of the Year candidates.An analytical breakdown of the NBA Rookie of the Year race between Charlotte's Kon Knueppel and Dallas' Cooper Flagg reveals Knueppel's superior overall impact on his team's success.Charlotte Today

The data suggests that Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel should be named the NBA Rookie of the Year over Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks. While Flagg had slightly better traditional per-game stats, Knueppel's advanced metrics and overall impact on his team's performance were superior, leading to more wins above expected. Despite Flagg being the betting favorite, the numbers indicate Knueppel is the rightful winner of the award.

Why it matters

The Rookie of the Year award is a prestigious honor that can set the trajectory for a young player's career. Getting the decision right based on the data is important, as it ensures the most deserving player is recognized for their contributions to their team's success.

The details

Adjusting the stats to a per-100-possession basis shows Knueppel had comparable scoring, rebounding, and assist numbers to Flagg, with a slight edge in efficiency. However, the advanced metrics tell a more complete story. Knueppel posted better offensive and defensive ratings, a higher net rating, and more wins added for his team compared to Flagg. The Hornets were also 3.6 points better per 100 possessions with Knueppel on the floor, translating to 8 more wins, while the Mavericks were only 1.2 points better with Flagg.

  • The NBA Rookie of the Year award is typically announced in late April or early May, following the conclusion of the regular season.
  • Knueppel and Flagg were the top two candidates for the award throughout the 2025-26 NBA season.

The players

Kon Knueppel

A rookie guard for the Charlotte Hornets who had a standout season and is the analytics-backed choice for NBA Rookie of the Year.

Cooper Flagg

A rookie forward for the Dallas Mavericks who was considered the frontrunner for the NBA Rookie of the Year award for much of the season, but the numbers suggest Knueppel was the more impactful player.

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What they’re saying

“I think that the awards body has gotten a little bit more analytical and like analytically inclined on these things, so I think Kon (Knueppel) is gonna win.”

— Sam Vecenie, NBA Analyst

What’s next

The NBA will announce the Rookie of the Year award winner in the coming weeks, with Knueppel expected to edge out Flagg based on the advanced analytics.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing importance of analytics in NBA award voting, as the numbers clearly show Kon Knueppel had a greater overall impact on his team's success compared to Cooper Flagg, despite Flagg's slightly better traditional stats. It's a reminder that advanced metrics can provide valuable insights that go beyond the box score.