Cooper Flagg vs. Kon Knueppel: When Will NBA Announce Rookie of the Year Winner?

Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel (Photos by Imagn Images)

Cooper Flagg vs. Kon Knueppel: When Will NBA Announce Rookie of the Year Winner?

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Heena Singh | Last updated Apr 26, 2026 12:57 PM ET

The Dallas Mavericks did not get much joy from the 2025-26 season, but one massive bright spot changed the mood completely. Cooper Flagg arrived and looked like a franchise changer. Night after night, the rookie gave us numbers, moments, and maturity way beyond his age. Now, all that work has him right in line for the league’s top first-year honor.

Meanwhile, the race was not short on competition. Charlotte Hornets sniper Kon Knueppel made serious noise, having led the NBA in made three-pointers with 273, while Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe also forced his name into the conversation. Still, Flagg’s all-around dominance kept him front and center from opening night to the final buzzer.

Per the NBA’s official awards schedule, released Saturday, the Kia NBA Rookie of the Year winner will be announced on Monday, April 27. Flagg is the favorite after averaging elite all-around production and becoming the first rookie since Michael Jordan in 1984-85 to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals.

Four more awards honoring top achievements during the 2025-26 NBA season will be announced next week.

MON, 4/27: Kia NBA Rookie of the Year
TUE, 4/28: Basketball Executive of the Year
WED, 4/29: Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year
THU, 4/30: Hustle Award pic.twitter.com/LRYvgHujXT
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 25, 2026

If he wins, he’d join Jason Kidd and Luka Doncic as the only Mavericks players to claim the award. With history on the table and rivals pushing hard, Monday just became must-watch for Dallas fans.

Why Copper Flagg Holds Slim Edge Over Kon Knueppel in Award Battle?

Flagg and Kon Knueppel have turned Rookie of the Year into a legit photo finish. Based on tracked public ballots from Max Croes, Flagg holds a razor-thin 14-13 edge in known first-place votes. That’s about as tight as it gets heading into decision time.

Cooper Flagg brought monster all-around numbers with 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and strong defense for Dallas, giving him a slight edge. Knueppel answered with elite shooting, 18.5 points per game, a rookie three-point record, and helped Charlotte reach 44 wins. Both guys built serious cases.

NBA history says chaos is possible, too. Rookie of the Year has ended in a tie three times, most recently in 2000 with Elton Brand and Steve Francis. With this race separated by basically nothing, another split result suddenly feels very real.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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