Dallas Mavericks star Cooper Flagg edged Kon Knueppel in one of the closest Rookie of the Year votes in the award's modern era.
The NBA Rookie of the Year has its second-youngest winner ever behind LeBron James. Dallas Mavericks star Cooper Flagg edged out former Duke Blue Devils teammate Kon Knueppel to win the ROY honors in the second-closest vote since 2002-03. Since the current voting format began that same year, it’s the second-smallest gap. Flagg secured the award by 26 points, receiving 56 first-place votes to Knueppel’s 44. The No. 1 pick by the Mavs averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, making him the fourth rookie in league history to average at least 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists. His company? Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Luka Doncic.
Flagg led all rookies in scoring, while being second in assists and third in rebounds. He led Dallas in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals. Jordan was the only other rookie in NBA history to do so. He became the youngest at 19 years old in league history to record games with 35, 40, 445, and 50 points, while setting the teen record scoring 51 points back on April 3. Knueppel certainly had a strong case, averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, while eclipsing the rookie 3-pt record with 273, leading the league. Knueppel was a key player in the Charlotte Hornets’ midseason stand where they made a 25-win turnaround from last year to finish 44-38 and reach the play-in. But Flagg edged out his former roommate in the end.
Here is the full story from Mavs Roundtable writer Aiden Kauffman on the historic award for Flagg and his campaign.
The Mavs didn’t have as exciting of a year as the Hornets, finishing 26-56 while seeming to firmly be in a long-term rebuild around their rookie cornerstone. It sets up Flagg as the face of the franchise and they head into Year 2 with the reining Rookie of the Year.