Top rookies Dallas Mavericks Cooper Flagg and Charlotte Hornets Kon Knueppel faced off against each other for the first time last night, with both putting on a scintillating display.
Speaking postgame, Flagg gave his thoughts on the Rookie of the Year race and his comparisons to Charlotte’s Knueppel.
How Did Cooper Flagg Show His Appreciation for Kon Knueppel?
Flagg said, “Obviously, I’m confident in what I can do, but he’s a great player as well. I know him better than pretty much anybody, being his roommate and stuff.”
“I know what he’s capable of and what he’s able to do out there on the court. He’s a special guy, special player, and he has incredible character.”
The 2025 No.1 pick put on a monster performance for the Mavericks, dropping 49 points and 10 rebounds, the highest point total by a teenager in NBA history.
Knueppel led the Hornets with 34 points, making 8 of his 12 shots from beyond the arc. He made the decisive free throws at the end to help Charlotte to a 123-121 win.
The Hornets are making up ground on the teams above them, winning their last five in a row and looking like a team destined for a postseason spot.
A lot of that is down to the addition of Knueppel in last year’s draft, averaging 18.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists.
Cooper Flagg weighs in on the ROTY race and constant comparison with former teammate (and roommate), Kon Knueppel.”
“Obviously I’m confident in what I can do but he’s a great player as well. I know him better than, pretty much anybody; being his roommate and stuff. I know what… pic.twitter.com/FeHI91Icff
— Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil) January 30, 2026
His fellow draft mate, Flagg, has been given the keys to the Mavericks franchise after Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving missed significant time due to injury.
Like Knueppel, Flagg has been sensational in his rookie year, averaging 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists.
Flagg and Knueppel are neck and neck in the race for the Rookie of the Year, which is fitting, since they used to be teammates and roommates.
Last season, the pair led Duke to 35 wins and four losses in the ACC, securing a tournament victory with Knueppel winning MVP honors.
Flagg added, “I know what he’s capable of and what he can do, night in and night out. You know, none of this has been surprising to me to see what he’s been able to do here.”
Last night’s game signalled what the future of the NBA could look like, with both Duke teammates looking destined to become consistent All-Stars.
There is no doubt the Rookie of the Year race will go right down to the wire, but it’s safe to say both players have been incredible.
The pair face off again on March 3. Will Davis and Irving be playing then? Will the Hornets be firmly in a play-in position? It will be an eagerly awaited match-up, no doubt.
