Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg once looked like the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year, especially after erupting for 49 points against Charlotte on January 29 in his first NBA matchup with Kon Knueppel.
But the outlook of the race has shifted significantly since then, according to Christian Clark of The Athletic.
Flagg’s prolonged absence because of a foot injury, along with the Hornets’ impressive 15–3 run, has helped swing momentum toward Knueppel, his former Duke teammate. Charlotte head coach Charles Lee believes the race now strongly favors his player.
“I don’t even think it’s close,” Lee said, per Clark. “(Knueppel) probably would be mad at me for saying something like that, because he just wants to focus on our team winning games and impacting games any way he possibly can.”
Statistically, Knueppel trails Flagg slightly in several per-game categories, including scoring, rebounding, and assists. However, he has been far more efficient offensively.
Knueppel owns a 61.6% effective field goal percentage, well above Flagg’s 51.5% mark.
The Duke product has also been more available, appearing in significantly more games, and he plays for a Charlotte team that has enjoyed greater success this season.
In addition, he has made a major impact as a perimeter shooter, connecting on 43.5% of his three-point attempts and knocking down 212 total threes – more than any player in the league except Tyrese Maxey.
Hornets head coach Charles Lee doesn't think the Rookie of the Year race is close: https://t.co/1zw0x558Nr
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 5, 2026
