Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg was named the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year on Monday, earning the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy in an announcement made by Hall of Famer Grant Hill on Peacock.
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Flagg finished with 412 total points after securing 56 out of 100 first-place votes from a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel finished second (386 points), and Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe was third (96 points).
His 26-point margin of victory over Knueppel is the second smallest since the current voting format began with the 2002-03 season. Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes' 15-point victory over Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley was the smallest margin (2021-22).
Flagg became the third player in franchise history to win the award, joining guard Luka Dončić (2018-19) and Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd (1994-95). Kidd shared the award with Hill after each player received 43 first-place votes.
"It is surreal," Flagg said on Peacock. "It is pretty cool. That is, obviously, the award that all of the rookies come in their first year and are searching out wanting to get that recognition. It just means a lot, and I'm really blessed."
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has been named the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year.
— Cody Taylor (@CodyTaylorNBA) April 27, 2026
His 26-point margin of victory over Kon Knueppel is the second smallest under the current voting format (2002-03). pic.twitter.com/YexR4DtS7n
Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 46.8% from the field in 70 appearances. He led the rookie class in scoring average and had the most 30-point games (11) by a first-year player since Victor Wembanyama in the 2023-24 season.
The former Duke All-American joined Michael Jordan as the only rookies in history to lead their team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals since steals were first recorded in 1973-74. He is the second-youngest player to win the award (19 years, 127 days).
Flagg on April 3 became one of 10 rookies to score at least 50 points in a game. He followed that performance with a 45-point outing on April 5, joining Allen Iverson as the only first-year players since the NBA-ABA merger with back-to-back 40-point games.
The 6-foot-8 forward joined the Mavericks organization with tremendous hype after establishing himself as a possible generational prospect. He lived up to expectations already in Year 1 and appears to be on the verge of a sensational career.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Mavericks news: Cooper Flagg tops Kon Knueppel for Rookie of the Year