Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg beats out Kon Knueppel in heated Rookie of the Year race

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has been named the recipient of the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy as the 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, the league announced on Monday night.

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, earning the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy. pic.twitter.com/FmgY6vTLjx

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 27, 2026

In what turned out to be a very tight race between two former teammates at Duke, Flagg ended up on top of this year’s rookie race against Charlotte Hornets sharpshooter Kon Knueppel, who also put together a tremendous rookie season. Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe finished third in the voting behind Flagg and Knueppel.

Flagg is the third player in Mavericks history to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, joining Luka Doncic (2018-19) and Jason Kidd (1994-95), who was joined by Grant Hill in being named co-Rookies of the Year.

This is also the third straight season that the Rookie of the Year is from the Southwest Division in the Western Conference, as Victor Wembanyama (2023-24) and Stephon Castle (2024-25) were named the last two recipients of the awards for the San Antonio Spurs.

With Flagg winning this award, that means three of the last four No. 1 overall picks in the NBA Draft have been named the Rookie of the Year.

All season, Flagg has been the clear No. 1 option on the Mavericks, who battled several injuries that led to their underwhelming 26-56 record.

In 70 appearances, Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the floor and 29.5 percent from 3-point range. The 2025 first-overall pick led all rookies in scoring (21.0 PPG), total field goals made (559), and total field goals attempted (1,194). He finished second behind Knueppel in total points scored this season by first-year players.

Compared to the whole league, Flagg ranked 24th in scoring and 16th in shots attempted per game. Flagg was one of 10 players in the league this season to average at least 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists per game, joining superstars like LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic this season.

As far as his rookie performances go, Flagg etched his name in NBA history multiple times over the course of his first year in the league.

Aside from becoming the youngest player in league history to ever score 50-plus points in a game with 51 points on April 3 against the Orlando Magic, Flagg followed up this performance with 45 points the next game against the Los Angeles Lakers, totaling 96 combined points in a two-game span.

Flagg joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only rookies in NBA history to have at least 96 points over any two-game span in NBA history. He also joined an exclusive list next to Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Lew Alcindor (Kareem-Abdul Jabbar), Earl Monroe, and Walt Bellamy as the only rookies with multiple 45-point games in NBA history.

Throughout the 2025-26 season, Flagg earned Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors in November, December, and January.

No matter how you look at it, Flagg’s rookie season was sensational, and he is very deserving of the Rookie of the Year honors.

This award was something the Mavs’ rookie was gunning for throughout the regular season, and when he was asked about this tight race with Knueppel, Flagg made it clear that he would be upset if he was not No. 1 on everyone’s list.

“I’d be disappointed,” Flagg responded to the hypothetical of Knueppel winning the award over him. “It’s something that I think all rookies come out and they strive for. And that’s the award they want to get, so I would definitely be disappointed.”

Well, there is nothing for Flagg to be disappointed about now, as he is the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year.

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