Flagg edges former Duke teammate Knueppel for NBA Rookie of the Year
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- Cooper Flagg won the NBA Rookie of the Year award, becoming the first rookie since Michael Jordan in 1984-85 to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals, despite the Dallas Mavericks' struggling season.
- Kon Knueppel finished second in the rookie scoring race and helped the Charlotte Hornets improve their wins by 25, nearly reaching the playoffs; he also led the league in 3-pointers made as a rookie.
- Flagg and Knueppel, former Duke teammates, were closely matched throughout the season, with Flagg's 96-point performance over two games near the end tipping the scales in his favor.
- Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in 70 games, setting multiple records for teenage players, including most 40-point games.
- Other NBA awards announced include Victor Wembanyama as Defensive Player of the Year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as Clutch Player of the Year, and Keldon Johnson as Sixth Man of the Year, with MVP and Coach of the Year awards yet to be announced.
