Was Cooper Flagg’s ROTY win more impressive than it looks? Breaking down production vs. team success
Cooper Flagg’s Rookie of the Year win shines despite Dallas’ struggles, with historic stats proving more impressive than team success alone.
Was Cooper Flagg’s ROTY win more impressive than it looks? Breaking down production vs. team success originally appeared on The Sporting News .
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Cooper Flagg was forced into a big role in the Dallas Mavericks because they had no business asking a teenager to carry the offense. Kyrie Irving never shared floor with him after tearing his ACL in 2025.
They traded Anthony Davis to Washington Wizards mid-season. Those unplanned moves basically ended any hope for the year, leaving Flagg to lead a 26–56 team that finished 12th in the West. On Wednesday, he was officially named the 2025–26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, edging roommate and former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel, who finished with 386 points.
Critics used the losing record to argue against his Rookie of the Year case, but others believe his numbers are actually more impressive because he had so little help. Why Cooper Flagg's rookie stats stand alone in modern NBA history Flagg led all rookies with 21. 0 points per game, while ranking in the top five in rebounds (6.