Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg Predicted to Win 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year Award

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has been predicted to win the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

A group of ESPN NBA experts, including reporters, editors and analysts, believe Flagg will be the best rookie in the league next season.

“Unsurprisingly, Cooper Flagg ran away with the voting: He’s the best prospect in this class, brings NBA-ready versatility and is stepping into what will likely be an important role on a team with playoff hopes and veteran talent,” Jeremy Woo wrote. “This award tends to be about the confluence of talent and circumstance, and Flagg enters the league with an optimal combination of both.”

The Mavericks selected Flagg with the first overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft out of Duke. The youngster, who averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks in college, is expected to have a high usage rate next season since Dallas All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving is out with an ACL tear.

Flagg shot 5-of-21 from the field and 0-of-5 from beyond the arc in his Summer League debut against the Los Angeles Lakers. He finished with 10 points, six rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes.

Flagg bounced back in a significant way in his second Summer League outing against the San Antonio Spurs. The talented swingman went off for 31 points while shooting 10-of-21 from the floor and 3-of-9 from 3, showing the entire sports world why the Mavericks drafted him with the first pick.

Dallas head coach Jason Kidd is expected to start D’Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, Flagg, Anthony Davis and Daniel Gafford to begin next season. Once Irving returns from his ACL injury, he will replace Russell in the starting lineup.