Former NBA All-Star and champion picks Kon Knueppel as his Rookie of the Year over Flagg originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2025-26 season has seen its fair share of fantastic rookie players. Cooper Flagg leads the way for both the Dallas Mavericks and the entire rookie class as the most promising first-year player. He came into the league with considerable hype from Duke University, and he has delivered.
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At the same time, his Duke teammate Kon Knueppel has also been superb with the Charlotte Hornets. He is one of the league’s sharpshooters as a rookie, which is quite impressive. They are performing at the top level, and now, the old college roommates are competing for Rookie of the Year.
Teague picks Knueppel over Flagg in the ROY race
It is a fun contrast between the two college teammates because they have different play styles. Flagg is more of a well-rounded player because he is elite on defense, and his offense has been superb with self-creation and athleticism.
On the other hand, Knueppel is the optimal offensive player with his elite three-point shooting and off-ball movement. Both players have high basketball IQ, which has made their transition into the NBA seamless.
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MORE: Giannis Antetokounmpo praises Kon Knueppel: ‘One of the smartest rookies I’ve ever seen’
Moving forward, they appear to be the biggest contenders for the Rookie of the Year award. Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe would have played spoiler, but he is not close to the two former Duke Blue Devils.
This has led to a debate throughout the NBA community between Knueppel and Flagg. Former NBA All-Star and champion Jeff Teague has said that he is picking Knueppel over Flagg.
“I think Cooper Flagg’s having a good rookie year, a phenomenal rookie year actually, but it comes with a lot of opportunity. The reason I think Kon Knueppel’s year is better is because he’s with some gunners, and he’s not supposed to be doing what he’s doing,” Teague said on his Club 520 show.
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He brings up a good point regarding the pressure that the Hornets are playing under compared to the Mavericks. Charlotte is playing more important games because the team is in the middle of a postseason race, while the Mavericks are well outside the postseason spots.
Knueppel might have the edge there, but at the end of the day, this will come down to the voters’ preferences. Teague has Knueppel over Flagg, but a lot of other people will disagree. However, it cannot be denied that they are the top two this season.