Either Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg or Charlotte Hornets swingman Kon Knueppel will win the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year Award.
After the Dallas Mavericks beat the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, Cooper Flagg opened up about the Rookie of the Year race with Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel.
Either Flagg or Knueppel will win the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year Award. The Duke products are very close friends. They were roommates in college last year.
"No, we don't talk about Rookie of the Year at all," Flagg said, via Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. "But I've definitely kept in touch with him throughout the whole year. That's one of my brothers and he'll be one of my best friends the rest of my life.
"We've stayed connected and shared thoughts on things we see in our own individual games and try to help each other out as much as possible. That brotherhood and relationship is never going to die."
Knueppel is averaging 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game this season for the Hornets while shooting 48.9% from the field, 43.8% from beyond the arc and 86.3% from the free-throw line. He leads the NBA in 3-pointers.
Meanwhile, Flagg is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game for the Mavericks while shooting 47.4% overall, 28.6% from 3 and 81.4% from the foul line. He leads all rookies in points per game and assists per game.
Knueppel was named Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February. The sharpshooter claimed the award for the fourth-straight month to begin his career, becoming the first player in Hornets history to win Rookie of the Month four times and the first NBA player to do so since Orlando Magic swingman Paolo Banchero in 2022-23.
It will be fascinating to see who wins the Rookie of the Year Award between Flagg and Knueppel. One thing is certain: Knueppel and Flagg will be in the NBA for a long, long time.
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