Cooper Flagg Wins NBA Rookie of the Year in Close Vote

DALLAS - Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg won the 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year award and earned the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy, the NBA said.

The league said Flagg edged Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel, his former Duke teammate, in a tight vote that came down to all-around production in Dallas against Knueppel's shooting and Charlotte's 25-win improvement.

What Happened

The NBA said Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals during his rookie season. The league said he became the first rookie since Michael Jordan in 1984-85 to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

Flagg, 19, also became the first teenager to score 50 points in an NBA game when he scored 51 against Orlando, according to the league. The NBA said he and Knueppel finished first and second in rookie scoring.

Graphic via NBA.com

The NBA said the award was decided by a panel of 100 reporters and broadcasters, who ranked their top three rookies. A first-place vote counted for five points, a second-place vote counted for three, and a third-place vote counted for one.

That format rewards broad support, not only first-place strength. A player can close the gap with enough second-place votes, which helps explain why the final margin stayed tight even after Flagg won the trophy.

Only 26 voting points separated Flagg and Knueppel, according to the NBA's official voting-results chart. Philadelphia's VJ Edgecombe was the other finalist.

Knueppel's case rested on elite shooting and team improvement. The NBA said he led the league with 273 made 3-pointers, averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists, and shot 42.5 percent from 3-point range. The league said Charlotte won 44 games, 25 more than the previous season, before Orlando eliminated the Hornets in the play-in tournament.

The Response

Flagg's win reflects how voters weighed individual responsibility against team rise. The Mavericks asked Flagg to carry a broad statistical load, and the NBA said he led Dallas in the four major counting categories: points, rebounds, assists and steals.

Photo via NBA.com/Getty Images

Knueppel's second-place finish showed how close the race became. The Hornets improved by 25 wins, and the NBA credited Knueppel with league-leading 3-point volume and efficient shooting in his first season.

Flagg said he watched the race while following box scores around the league. "I see the games every night. I can check the box scores," Flagg said in the NBA article.

He also said he was tracking Knueppel closely because of their Duke connection. "I think also I was watching Kon just because that's one of my brothers," Flagg said. "We had such a good connection, and we're gonna be there for each other for the rest of our lives. I was watching him as a fan as well, but there was obviously that competition at the same time."

What People Are Saying

"Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, earning the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy."

NBA Communications

"I see the games every night. I can check the box scores."

Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks forward, according to the NBA

"I think also I was watching Kon just because that's one of my brothers. We had such a good connection, and we're gonna be there for each other for the rest of our lives. I was watching him as a fan as well, but there was obviously that competition at the same time."

Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks forward, according to the NBA

The Big Picture

The award gives Dallas a franchise centerpiece after a rookie season in which Flagg became the Mavericks' leading scorer, rebounder, passer and steals leader, according to the NBA. It also gives Charlotte a second-place rookie finish that reflects a major team jump and Knueppel's immediate shooting impact.

The league's awards rollout continues with other major regular-season honors still pending. For Flagg and Knueppel, the vote also sets up a longer comparison between two former Duke teammates who immediately became central players for their NBA teams.

The close margin gives the result a cleaner frame than a runaway vote would have. Flagg took the award on the strength of his all-around Dallas role, while Knueppel's finish showed how much voters valued shooting efficiency, team improvement and rookie production in Charlotte.