DHJ Quick Take: The Rookie Showdown
- The Flagg Volume: Cooper Flagg (21.0 PPG) led all rookies in scoring, punctuated by his 51-point masterpiece against the Orlando Magic. As the youngest player in the NBA, his late-season surge (29 PPG in the final month) proved he could carry an elite offensive load even on a Mavericks roster lacking secondary support.
- Knueppel’s Historic Range: Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel put up a statistical anomaly, becoming the first rookie to lead the NBA in 3-pointers made (273). His efficiency and role in Charlotte‘s Play-In rise provided a stark contrast to Flagg’s high-usage, high-volume role in Dallas.
- The Play-In Factor: While Rookie of the Year is a regular-season award, the delayed ballot window may have hurt Knueppel. His struggles in the Play-In tournament (1-of-12 from deep) were fresh in voters’ minds, potentially tilting the race toward Flagg’s explosive regular-season finish.
- The Philadelphia Pillar: VJ Edgecombe’s inclusion as a finalist solidifies the 76ers’ future. While the race is largely seen as a Flagg vs. Knueppel toss-up, Edgecombe’s two-way impact alongside Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid earned him a seat at the table.
DALLAS — Cooper Flagg will learn Monday whether he is the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year.
The league will reveal the winner at 6 p.m. CT during NBA Showtime on Peacock. Flagg, Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, and Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe are the three finalists for the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy.
Flagg and Knueppel played together at Duke last season. Most voters narrowed the choice to those two.
What Cooper Flagg Did as a Rookie
Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists for the Dallas Mavericks. He shot 46.8% from the field and 29.7% from 3-point range and led the rookie class in scoring.
The 19-year-old closed the season strong. He averaged 29 points per game in April, scored 51 against the Orlando Magic, and added 45 against the Los Angeles Lakers. His season ended with a sprained ankle in Dallas’s regular-season finale against the Chicago Bulls.
The Mavericks finished outside the play-in field. Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, was the league’s youngest player throughout the season. He turned 19 on December 21.
What Kon Knueppel Did as a Rookie
Knueppel, the No. 4 pick, averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. He shot 42.5% from 3-point range on 7.9 attempts per game.
He set a league record. Knueppel made 273 3-pointers, the most by any rookie in NBA history and the most by any player in 2025-26. He passed Keegan Murray‘s previous rookie record of 206 in late February.
Knueppel missed one game all season. Charlotte went from 19 wins in 2024-25 to a Play-In Tournament berth. The Hornets went 32-13 from January 2 forward and led the NBA in offensive rating and net rating over that span.
How the Ballot Window Could Impact the Race
When voters cast their ballots may have changed the outcome. Appeals filed by Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham pushed the schedule back, and ballots went out during the Play-In window as a result.
The Play-In did not go well for Knueppel. Across two games against Miami and Orlando, he went 5-of-22 from the field (23%) and 1-of-12 from 3-point range (8%). Charlotte left him on the bench down the stretch in the Miami loss.
The Rookie of the Year is a regular-season award. Voters still cast their ballots with that postseason cameo fresh in mind.
How to Watch
NBA Showtime begins at 6 p.m. CT on Peacock. The Rookie of the Year reveal is scheduled to come during the show, before NBC’s first-round playoff tripleheader.
More Mavericks Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
- Lightning Or Logic? Breaking Down The Dallas Mavericks’ 28.9% Chance At A Top-4 Pick
- ‘Taking The Torch’: Ryan Nembhard Sets Franchise Assist Record As Dallas Mavericks End Season With 149-128 Win Over Chicago Bulls
- ‘That’s What Paul Silas Did For Me’: LeBron James Draws Parallel Between His Rookie Role And Cooper Flagg’s
- ‘He Will Be Unstoppable’: Cooper Flagg’s Three-Point Statement Gives Blueprint For NBA Dominance
- ‘They’re Very Similar’: Jason Kidd Breaks Down The LeBron James Parallels For Cooper Flagg
