Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel Battle for NBA Rookie of the Year
When the 2025-26 NBA season began, Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg was the heavy favorite to win the league’s Rookie of the Year Award. Flagg, who spent one year at Duke before being selected with the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, was listed as a -170 favorite on DraftKings. Every other rookie had odds of at least 10-1. However, the landscape has shifted, and two factors could prevent Flagg from claiming the award: a foot sprain that sidelined him for eight games, and the emergence of Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel.
The Rise of Kon Knueppel
Kon Knueppel, Flagg’s former teammate and roommate at Duke, has surpassed Flagg in the betting odds for Rookie of the Year. As of March 7, 2026, on DraftKings, Knueppel is the -180 favorite, while Flagg is at +145, and Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe is a distant +12000. Knueppel, the fourth pick in last year’s draft, began the season at +1400.
Statistical Comparison
Despite Knueppel’s favorable odds, Flagg currently has better individual statistics. Heading into Friday’s game against Boston, Flagg is averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, with 47.8% shooting from the field. However, voters may consider his absence from 12 of the Mavericks’ 62 games.
“Obviously the hardest thing is not playing,” Flagg said after Thursday’s game. “I love competing. I love playing basketball, so it was hard to have that taken away from me, but it’s a good opportunity to learn and have a broader perspective.”
Knueppel has played in 62 of Charlotte’s 63 games, averaging 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He leads the NBA with 216 three-pointers, shooting at a 43.6% clip. His 216 three-pointers as well set a new NBA rookie record.
Team Success Plays a Role
Charlotte’s surprising success this season could be a deciding factor. After a 4-14 start, the Hornets went 32-31 and were on a six-game winning streak as of Friday, playing at home against Miami. Charlotte won 19 games last season and is aiming for its first playoff appearance since 2015-16.
In contrast, Dallas entered Friday’s game in Boston with a 21-41 record, unlikely to approach the 39 wins they achieved last season.
Coaches Weigh In
Despite his personal bias, Charlotte’s coach, Charles Lee, argued that Knueppel is more deserving of the award than Flagg. “I think he did great. I don’t even think it’s close. I think Kon has done a great job of continuing to excel, making an impact with wins, and maintaining consistency on both ends of the court. I think their friendly competition and the fact that they arrive from the same basketball program makes it better, but overall Kon is a humble competitor who I don’t even think he gets carried away with. He’ll probably get mad at me for saying something like that, because he just wants to focus on our team, winning games and influencing it in any way possible.”
Historical Precedent
Historically, team success has been a significant factor in Rookie of the Year voting. Twenty-two of the last 25 winners played for teams that improved their win-loss record compared to the previous season.
Looking Ahead
Flagg still has time to surpass Knueppel and win the award, but Charlotte’s superior record will likely be the deciding factor, making Knueppel the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.