Cooper Flagg wins NBA Rookie of the year over former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel
Cooper Flagg set a host of records for an NBA teenager in an also-ran season for Dallas Mavericks. Kon Knueppel helped the Charlotte Hornets to a 25-win improvement that almost led to a spot in the playoffs. It’s no wonder they ended up in a tight Rookie of the Year race.
Flagg edged his former Duke teammate to win the award Monday night after becoming the first rookie since Michael Jordan in 1984-85 to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. The 19-year-old Flagg and Knueppel were first and second in rookie scoring, the first former college teammates to do that since UConn stars Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon in 2004-05. Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe was the other finalist.
Flagg and Knueppel traded places as betting favorites during the season, but Flagg’s 96-point outburst over two games on the second-to-last weekend might have tipped the scales. Flagg was the favorite going into the announcement. ALSO READ: Carolina Ascent names new president The first of those games was Flagg’s 51-point showing against Orlando, the first time a teenager has scored 50 in the NBA.
He broke his own record for a teenager of 49, set against Knueppel and the Hornets in January. “I see the games every night. I can check the box scores,” Flagg said when asked how close of an eye he kept on Knueppel.
“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.