NBA Rookie Power Rankings: Final Leader to Be Decided in Cooper Flagg vs. Kon Knueppel Battle

Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel (Photos by Imagn Images)

NBA Rookie Power Rankings: Final Leader to Be Decided in Cooper Flagg vs. Kon Knueppel Battle

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Heena Singh | Last updated Apr 9, 2026 3:44 PM ET

No need to overthink it, this Rookie of the Year race is coming down to the wire. The final Kia Rookie Ladder for 2025-26, released April 9 via NBA, reads like a ballot reveal with serious stakes. Two names sit at the center, and the gap is razor thin.

On one side, it’s Cooper Flagg, bringing in the flash. Big numbers, highlight nights, even a 51-point explosion that put him in rare teenage territory alongside legends. On the other hand, Kon Knueppel showed us consistency. Fewer headlines, more wins. Different styles, same impact, and that contrast has defined this race from day one.

Now the call: Knueppel edges ahead as the final ladder leader, with Flagg right behind and VJ Edgecombe locking in third. The deciding factors are availability, elite shooting, and winning impact.

VJ Edgecombe (Image Credits: Imagn)

Knueppel’s record-breaking 3-point season and Charlotte’s surge (more than doubling last year’s wins) gave him the edge. Flagg’s numbers still pop, but missed games and Dallas’ struggles shifted the balance. Same draft class, same ceiling talk, but right now, Knueppel holds the line.

Max Kellerman Picks Cooper Flagg Over Luka Doncic as Top Rookie Prospect

The Dallas Mavericks found a new face of the franchise in Flagg; however, the comparisons to Luka Doncic hit different. On April 9, via “Game Over,” Max Kellerman made his pick clear, alluding that he’s rolling with Flagg. For him, it’s about two-way impact, and the 19-year-old brings just that.

“I would rather have Cooper Flagg over Luka. I like his style of play. I think Luka is a better playmaker, but Luka isn’t a defender. Cooper is excellent. Cooper Flagg is one of these actual can defend 1-5 level players.”

Max Kellerman would rather have Cooper Flagg over Luka Doncic coming into the NBA:

“I would rather have Cooper Flagg over Luka. I like his style of play. I think Luka is a better playmaker but Luka isn’t a defender. Cooper is excellent. Cooper Flagg is one of these actual can… pic.twitter.com/75nlobAxNS
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) April 8, 2026

Still, Doncic’s rookie year was special, with elite playmaking and a ROY win. Cooper Flagg’s numbers are close, but the edge depends on what you value more.

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

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