March 28, 2026, 2:29 p.m. ET
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd on Friday delivered his argument for which player should win Rookie of the Year, and it likely won’t surprise many to learn that the Hall of Famer picked Cooper Flagg to hoist the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy.
Flagg has paced the rookie class in scoring for much of the season, averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 62 appearances. He became the second-youngest player in history to score 1,000 career points, trailing only LeBron James (19 years, 74 days).
The No. 1 overall pick set the single-game scoring record by a teenager on Jan. 29 after scoring 49 points, which, ironically, came against his top competitor for Rookie of the Year: Former Duke teammate and Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel.
While Knueppel has made a compelling case to win the annual award, Kidd is understandably backing Flagg after emerging as a franchise cornerstone. He offered his argument for Flagg to win, via Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News.
For his part, Knueppel is averaging 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 43.8% from 3-point range in 72 appearances. He leads all players in the NBA in 3-pointers (253) and is one of two rookies with five or more 30-point games.
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The fourth overall pick on Feb. 26 set the NBA record for the most 3-pointers in a season by a rookie, surpassing Keegan Murray (206). Entering play on Saturday, Knueppel is eight shy of setting the single-season franchise record held by Kemba Walker (260).
Knueppel recently surpassed Flagg as the betting favorite to win Rookie of the Year behind his sustained run with the Hornets. Though the two former teammates each has a strong argument to win, Flagg said they haven’t discussed it much.
“We don’t talk about the Rookie of the Year,” Flagg said on Friday. “It is not like, ‘Oh, did you see what this guy said?’ But I’ve definitely kept in touch with him throughout the whole year. That is one of my brothers, and he’ll be one of my best friends for the rest of my life. We’ve definitely stayed connected and shared thoughts on different things that we’ve seen in our own individual games, and try to help each other out as much as possible, just because that brotherhood and relationship is never going to die.”
Flagg was sidelined for eight games because of a foot sprain suffered on Feb. 10 in a loss to the Phoenix Suns. He is averaging 20.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals in 13 games since returning, which includes a 32-point performance on March 23.
The former All-American recorded 24 points, four steals, three rebounds and two assists on Friday, leading the Mavericks to a 100-93 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. He registered his 11th 20-point half in the contest, more than the rest of the rookie class combined (10).
Flagg joined the team with tremendous hype and expectations as the top pick. He has responded by leading the Mavericks in several statistical categories, including points, field goals, rebounds and assists, despite missing 12 total games.
The 6-foot-8 forward is in the midst of a historic rookie campaign and has impressed his teammates and coaches along the way. However the Rookie of the Year race shakes out, the organization is rallying around Flagg and offering its full support, which Flagg is grateful for.
“I felt the support the whole year,” Flagg said. “I think they’ve put me in incredible positions to succeed out there, and I felt all of that love and support. That’s what it comes down to, just me going out there and being myself. I said that at the start of the year: As long as I go out there and be myself, and I can kind of drown the pressure out and whatever other people are saying, all of the rest will work itself out.”