Cooper Flagg narrowly tops Kon Knueppel for NBA Rookie of the Year
Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg was named the Rookie of the Year on Monday, earning the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy in an announcement on Peacock.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg was named the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year on Monday, earning the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy in an announcement made by Hall of Famer Grant Hill on Peacock. Flagg finished with 412 total points after securing 56 out of 100 first-place votes from a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel finished second (386 points), and Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe was third (96 points).
His 26-point margin of victory over Knueppel is the second smallest since the current voting format began with the 2002-03 season. Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes' 15-point victory over Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley was the smallest margin (2021-22). Flagg became the third player in franchise history to win the award, joining guard Luka Donฤiฤ (2018-19) and Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd (1994-95).
Kidd shared the award with Hill after each player received 43 first-place votes. "It is surreal," Flagg said on Peacock. "It is pretty cool.
That is, obviously, the award that all of the rookies come in their first year and are searching out wanting to get that recognition. It just means a lot, and I'm really blessed. " Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has been named the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year.