Cooper Flagg wins 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year award

18 articles · Updated · Fox News · Apr 27

Flagg, 19, narrowly edged Charlotte Hornets’ Kon Knueppel with 412 points and 56 first-place votes, becoming the second-youngest winner after LeBron James.
Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists for the Dallas Mavericks, leading all rookies in scoring. Voters cited Knueppel’s Play-In Tournament struggles as a deciding factor.
Knueppel set a rookie record with 273 three-pointers and led the NBA in that category. Flagg joins Bird, Jordan, and Doncic as the only rookies since the merger to average 20-6-4.

Flagg won the award, but who will have the better NBA career?

Is Flagg's rookie season, despite team losses, as impressive as Michael Jordan's debut?

Did voters overlook Kon Knueppel's historic shooting and impact on winning?

Should a team's win-loss record be a bigger factor in Rookie of the Year voting?

How will the Lakers' current playoff run without Dončić affect his legacy in Los Angeles?

Was trading superstar Luka Dončić ultimately the right move for the Mavericks?