Topps Unveils 1-of-1 Sneaker Card From Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel Duel

Jake RogersJanuary 30, 2026January 30, 2026

NBA: Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks is guarded by Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Center

Photo by Vernon Bryant/Dallas Mavericks

One collector will walk away with a singular piece of NBA history from Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel’s first professional meeting — and it won’t be found in a box score.

Topps announced a limited-edition trading card commemorating the inaugural NBA matchup between Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, highlighted by a 1-of-1 dual autograph card embedded with scraps from both players’ game-worn sneakers.

The ultra-rare card is part of a short, 48-hour on-demand sale that closes at 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 1, according to Topps. One purchaser will receive the one-of-one sneaker relic card, while the broader run commemorates a game that instantly became one of the most talked-about rookie showdowns of the season.

Topps revealed a first look at the card following Thursday night’s game, when Knueppel and the Charlotte Hornets edged Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.

A First Meeting for Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel

The card marks the first NBA matchup between the former Duke Blue Devils teammates, a game that delivered both historic production and a dramatic finish.

Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick, authored one of the most statistically significant performances by a teenager in league history. The 19-year-old scored 49 points on 20-of-29 shooting, added 10 rebounds, and became the youngest player ever to reach 49 points in a single NBA game.

Despite the loss, Flagg’s night placed him in rare company among rookie scorers and further elevated his profile as a centerpiece of the league’s next generation.

Kon Knueppel Seals It at the Line

Knueppel, the No. 4 pick, delivered the closing moments.

He finished with a career-high 34 points on 10-of-16 shooting, went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, and converted two game-winning free throws in the final seconds to secure the Hornets’ victory. The performance capped a head-to-head duel that underscored why both players have quickly emerged as central figures in the NBA’s Rookie of the Year conversation.

Topps’ decision to memorialize the game with a sneaker relic card reflects the growing collectability surrounding both players — not only as individual stars, but as intertwined parts of a rivalry that traces back to their shared season at Duke.

For one collector, that rivalry will now live on in a single card — stitched together by autographs, game-worn footwear, and a night that felt destined for the memorabilia vault the moment the final buzzer sounded.