Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel in Tight Battle for NBA Rookie of the Year

The two former Duke teammates are the leading candidates for the prestigious award.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:00pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game with fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes of color, representing the close and intense competition between the two rookie standouts.The close Rookie of the Year race between Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel reflects the rising talent and competitive spirit of the NBA's next generation.Charlotte Today

The race for the NBA Rookie of the Year award has come down to two players - Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks and Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets. Both were teammates last season at Duke University and are now vying for the top rookie honor, with a close vote expected between the two talented young stars.

Why it matters

This year's Rookie of the Year race is being called one of the closest in recent memory, with both Flagg and Knueppel putting up impressive numbers and leading their teams in different ways. The outcome of the award could have long-term implications for the careers of these two rising NBA talents.

The details

Flagg, the first overall pick by the Mavericks, led all rookies in scoring at 21 points per game and also averaged 4.5 assists, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. He made history by becoming the youngest player to score 40 and 50 points in a game. Knueppel, drafted 4th overall by the Hornets, led all rookies in 3-pointers made with 273 and helped Charlotte reach the play-in tournament, a 25-win improvement over last season. The decision has divided voters, with some favoring Flagg's overall impact and others preferring Knueppel's efficiency and winning contribution.

  • Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to score 40 points in a game in December.
  • Flagg scored 51 points in an April game, becoming the youngest player to reach 50 points.
  • Knueppel played in 81 of 82 regular season games, compared to Flagg missing 8 games due to injury.

The players

Cooper Flagg

The first overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks, Flagg led all rookies in scoring at 21 points per game and made history as the youngest player to score 40 and 50 points in a game.

Kon Knueppel

The 4th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets, Knueppel led all rookies in 3-pointers made with 273 and helped the Hornets reach the play-in tournament, a 25-win improvement over last season.

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What they’re saying

“This is, I think, the closest Rookie of the Year race that I can remember, and maybe that there has been in a very long time.”

— Howard Beck, NBA Writer, The Ringer

“I can't believe Flagg is favored versus Kon, who's the second-best guy on a playoff team. I think (Knueppel's) the key to that team, in a lot of ways, because he's the only one that really moves. The gravity that he brings when he moves around, and how defenses react to him, you have to have it for how they play.”

— Bill Simmons

“Cooper clearly is the more skilled player, Cooper is the player with more responsibility, a heavier burden. (But) the exercise isn't who's the better player in the outline. It's not 'Who has the better skill set?' It's 'Who had the better season?'”

— Howard Beck, NBA Writer, The Ringer

What’s next

The final Rookie of the Year vote results will be announced in the coming days, with the winner set to receive the award.

The takeaway

This year's NBA Rookie of the Year race is shaping up to be one of the closest and most compelling in recent memory, with two former Duke teammates in Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel battling it out for the prestigious honor. The outcome could have significant implications for the future trajectories of these two rising young stars.