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Flagg Wins NBA Rookie of the Year in Close Race

Charlotte Hornets News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!·Apr 28, 2026·1:24

About this Episode

Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks narrowly won the 2025-2026 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year award, edging out Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel in a close race. Flagg received 56 first-place votes to Knueppels 44, both players putting up star-level stats and significantly improving their teams. The twist came when Luka Doncics eligibility was questioned, pushing voting into the Play-In Tournament. Knueppels poor shooting performance in the Hornets first Play-In game may have influenced voters. Knueppel had an impressive rookie season, averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 3.4 threes per game, leading the league in threes made. The debate continues over whether Doncics delay and Knueppels rough Play-In game cost him the award.

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Transcript

On April 2-8, Cooper Flag of the Dallas Mavericks snagged the 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year award, edging out Charlotte.

Hornets guard Khan Newepple in one of the tightest races ever.

Flag pulled 56 first place folks to Newepple's 44, both dropping star-level stats and boosting their squad's big time.

The twist came from Luca Don Cheaches last-minute appeal on his 65-game eligibility threshold.

That push-voting passed the usual deadline, right into the play-in tournament after the Hornets opener against Miami on April 14.

Voters saw Kenwepple brick shots in that game, going 2 for 12 from the field, and 0 for 6 from deep, which some say swayed minds like it did.

Bill Simmons for another award. The Hornets bounced back in Round 2, but the first impression lingered.

Newepple lit it up all season with 18.5 points, 5.3 boards, 3.4 dimes, and 3.43s per game.

At elite clips, he led the league and threes made as a rookie, smashing records, and flipped the Hornets from 19 wins to 44.

Leaves us chewing on this. Did Don Cheaches delay in that rough play? In Night Snatch at Trophy, Newepple earned in the regular season grind? The debate rolls on.

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