basketball

Dirk Nowitzki commends Mavericks' Cooper Flagg for Rookie of the Year

โ€ขYahoo Sports

Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki commended Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg for winning the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year award this week.

Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki commended Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg for winning the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year award this week. Flagg averaged 21 points, 6. 7 rebounds, 4.

5 assists and 1. 2 steals while shooting 46. 8% from the field in 70 appearances.

He led the rookie class in scoring average and had the most 30-point games (11) by a first-year player since Victor Wembanyama in the 2023-24 season. The No. 1 overall pick is the third player in franchise history to win, joining Luka Donฤiฤ‡ and coach Jason Kidd.

He was praised by Nowitzki for the way he handled the spotlight throughout the season and for establishing himself as a leader on the team. "I love Kon, and I think they both deserved it," Nowitzki said on "NBA on Prime" on Wednesday . "You could have gone co-Rookie of the Year.