Flagg Wins 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg won the 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year award on Monday, narrowly defeating Charlotte Hornets swingman Kon Knueppel, his former Duke University teammate.

The league announced the honor, which comes with the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy, after voting from 100 reporters and broadcasters who ranked their top three rookies, awarding five points for first place, three for second and one for third. Flagg received 56 first-place votes for 412 total points, while Knueppel earned 44 first-place votes and 386 points. The 26-point margin marked the second-closest finish since the format began in 2002-03, behind only Toronto's Scottie Barnes over Cleveland's Evan Mobley by 15 points in 2022. Philadelphia's VJ Edgecombe finished a distant third.

Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft and the youngest player in the league at 19, averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks in 70 starts. He became the first rookie since Michael Jordan in 1984-85 to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals, a feat that helped overcome Dallas's challenging 26-56 season. The Mavericks traded Anthony Davis to Washington...