Earlier than the beginning of the 2025-26 NBA season, cooper flag Was the unanimous favourite to win the Rookie of the 12 months award. Amongst his draft friends, he was the one one who was thought-about a franchise-type participant. However 4 months into the season, issues have modified.
select quantity 4 Con Knuppel – Flagg’s former roommate in Duke Blue Devils males’s basketball – has had an outstanding rookie 12 months and has emerged as a reputable risk to steal the award from Flagg.
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paul pierce There was even a declare for the Charlotte Hornets guard to win Rookie of the 12 months throughout a current episode of the No Fouls Given podcast.
“What’s Cone, the third or fourth choice some nights and nonetheless places up the identical statistical numbers because the man on his crew who’s the No. 1 choice. I imply, in case you put Cone on Dallas, he is likely to be averaging 27. Rattling, the best way he is going, like straight up,” Pierce mentioned.
flag vs nuppel
Averaging 20.4 factors, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per recreation, Flagg is undoubtedly residing as much as the billing, and he is getting higher as he will get all of the alternatives he can in Dallas. Nevertheless, numbers-wise, Knueppel is not far behind – he is averaging 19.2 factors, 5.5 rebounds and three.5 assists per recreation.
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That mentioned, their roles differ on their respective groups, so it is arduous to foretell numbers and upside for the Mavericks ahead.
On a per-36-minute foundation, their manufacturing is almost similar – Flagg is averaging 21.5 factors, 6.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists, whereas Knueppel posts 21.6 factors, 6.2 rebounds and three.9 assists. Knueppel additionally holds the sting in taking pictures effectivity, with splits of .488/.435/.873 in comparison with Flagg’s .482/.302/.804.
This effectivity benefit is a serious cause why Pierce’s co-host and three-time NBA champion, Danny Inexperienced, believes Cone has the sting over Cooper within the Rookie of the 12 months race.
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“Performs the appropriate means, makes little strikes,” Inexperienced mentioned. “It would not appear pressured in any respect. Like he is getting his buckets and doing it effectively and simply letting the sport come to him. Like Cooper needed to exit and get it.”
Co-Rookie of the 12 months winner?
Since Flagg and Knueppel have been named Rookie of the Month of their respective conferences because the starting of the season, former Los Angeles Lakers ahead Robert Horry instructed final month that the league may take into account nominating them. Rookie of the Year co-winner And this 12 months I’m awarding two trophies.
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“I will take Conn Knueppel. All people is aware of who Cooper Flagg is, and plenty of instances these voters get lazy and go, ‘Oh, Cooper Flagg!’ If you examine the Rookie of the 12 months races since LeBron and Carmelo, no, that wasn’t it,” Scary Said On a current episode of his podcast. “It was Jason Kidd and Grant Hill. They have been so shut, they have been like, ‘F–ok it, we’ll give it to each of you.’ That is a type of conditions the place you can provide it to each.
In NBA historical past, there have been solely three co-Rookie of the 12 months winners and none since 2000, when Elton Model and Steve Francis shared the award. This 12 months is making a powerful case. Nevertheless, the most recent kia stop ladder signifies that Knueppel now has a slight lead on the flag.
This story was initially revealed by basketball network On March 5, 2026, the place it first appeared latest news Part. Join basketball community as one Favorite source by clicking here.
