Draymond Green Selects Kon Knueppel as Rookie of the Year

Veteran NBA star cites Knueppel's winning contributions as key factor in decision.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:35am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball game, with the players' forms broken down into abstract shapes and planes of color.Draymond Green's unconventional take on the Rookie of the Year award could reshape how the NBA evaluates its top first-year players.Charlotte Today

Veteran NBA player Draymond Green has selected Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel as his pick for Rookie of the Year, citing Knueppel's key role in helping the Hornets reach the cusp of the postseason despite low preseason expectations. Green believes Knueppel's impact on winning should be a major consideration, in contrast to the typical focus on individual statistics.

Why it matters

The Rookie of the Year award is usually based primarily on individual statistics, but Green argues that a player's contributions to winning should also be a major factor. This could shift the narrative around the award and set a new precedent for future voting.

The details

Before the season, most experts had Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks pegged as the Rookie of the Year favorite. However, Kon Knueppel, the fourth overall pick of the Charlotte Hornets, has emerged as a strong contender due to his key role in the Hornets' surprising push for the playoffs. While Flagg has had some dominant individual performances, Green believes Knueppel's impact on the Hornets' success should be the deciding factor.

  • Kon Knueppel was the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
  • The 2025-26 NBA season is currently underway.

The players

Kon Knueppel

A rookie forward for the Charlotte Hornets, selected fourth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Cooper Flagg

A rookie guard for the Dallas Mavericks, selected one pick ahead of Knueppel in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Draymond Green

A veteran NBA player and analyst who has selected Kon Knueppel as his Rookie of the Year pick.

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What they’re saying

“I know everyone says 'rookie of the year isn't an award that goes off winning.' When did winning stop mattering for anything? Basketball is about winning and losing. He has affected winning in a major way. I think that has to count for something.”

— Draymond Green, NBA Veteran and Analyst

What’s next

The NBA Rookie of the Year award will be announced at the end of the 2025-26 regular season.

The takeaway

Draymond Green's stance on the Rookie of the Year award could set a new precedent, emphasizing a player's impact on winning over pure individual statistics. This could shift the narrative around the award and lead to more well-rounded evaluations of top rookies in the future.