Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel named to NBA All-Rookie first team for 2025-26 season
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
It’s no secret that Cooper Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks’ No. 1 pick who won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, was part of the league’s first All-Rookie team that came out Wednesday night.
But other bright, young NBA stars were named alongside him.
Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets, Flagg’s Duke Blue Devils college teammate and runner-up for the Rookie of the Year Award, and VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers’ were also named to the All-Rookie First Team alongside Flagg following the polls.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONE OF THE GAMES ON FOXNEWS.COM
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg drives down the floor during the second half of an NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Dallas on April 5, 2026. (LM Otero/AP)
Rounding out the first team were San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper and Memphis Grizzlies guard Cedric Coward. All five players received votes for the Rookie of the Year Award.
There were 100 votes counted in groups, and Harper had seven votes without another unanimous vote. He had seven second-team votes, while Coward had 29 first-team votes and 67 second-team votes for 125 points.
COOPER FLAGG WINS NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AFTER KON KNUEPPEL’S PLAY IN THE PLACE OF KON KNUEPPEL STRUGGLES VOTERS
Flagg narrowly beat Knueppel, who went three seasons with the Hornets behind his Duke teammate, receiving 56 first-place votes compared to Knueppel’s 44 in that tally. Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe finished third with 96 points (third-place votes), while Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs and Cedric Coward of the Memphis Grizzlies also received third-place votes.
Flagg is the second-youngest player ever to win the award, as the 19-year-old trailed LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
For most of the season, it seemed like Knueppel would win the award, but many voters came out and said Knueppel’s Play-In Tournament struggles caused them to change their minds about Flag.
Knueppel had just six points on 2-of-12 shooting in 34 minutes during the Hornets’ 127-126 overtime win over the Miami Heat in the tournament opener. Then in a 121-90 loss to the Orlando Magic, he shot 3 of 11 for 11 points (4 of 5 from the free throw line as well), and posted a minus-26 on the court.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg watches from the bench during the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on April 3, 2026. (Photos by Jerome Miron/Imagn)
Flagg noted the interest Knueppel has shown throughout the year, showing affection to his fellow rookie.
“I see the games every night. I can check the box scores,” he said of watching Knueppel’s stat lines up close, per ESPN. “I think I was also watching Kon because he is one of my brothers.
“We had a great connection, and we’re going to be there together for the rest of our lives. I was watching him as a fan, but obviously there was that competition at the same time.”
Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game this year for the Mavericks. Those numbers put him among the NBA’s greats, as Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Luka Doncic were the only rookies before Flagg to reach at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists since the NBA-ABA merger, ESPN reported. Flagg also led all rookies in scoring this season.
As for Knueppel, he dropped 18.5 points per game with 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists, but while Flagg had him beaten in those categories, he reset the rookie 3-pointer record with 273. That number also led the NBA this season. Knueppel was also a key piece in the Hornets’ run to the Play-In Championship to begin with, finishing 44-38 before being eliminated by the Magic.
But still for them what is left in the NBA Playoffs, as Harper has been very successful with his Spurs teammates, especially Victor Wembanyama, the NBA’s Rookie of the Year for the past two seasons, and Stephon Castle, the Rookie of the Year during the 2024-25 campaign.
San Antonio Spurs combo guard Dylan Harper shoots a three-pointer over Portland Trail Blazers PG Jrue Holiday at the Moda Center. (Photos by Jaime Valdez-Imagn)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
Edgecombe also played a key role in the 76ers’ upset of the Boston Celtics in a first-round upset, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series in Game 7. Unfortunately for Edgecombe and his teammates, the New York Knicks swept them in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The All-Rookie second team consists of Derik Queen of the New Orleans Pelicans and Jeremiah Fears, Maxime Raynaud of the Sacramento Kings, Ace Bailey of the Utah Jazz and Collin Murray-Boyles of the Toronto Raptors.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and register at the Fox News Sports Huddle.
