The NBA Rookie of the Year race is on its head as the regular season nears its end. However, inside the Dallas Mavericks organization, the stance on who deserves the award the most is clear. HC Jason Kidd made a bold public declaration about Cooper Flagg. 

Speaking during his pre-game press conference on 28 March, Kidd discussed the importance of the honor for his young star.

Kidd stated, “Yeah, it’s a big priority. It’s a big award — you’re only a rookie once. Cooper has to do his part, and he is. He’s having a historic year. When you put his numbers up against past rookies who have won, it’s clear-cut — it’s not even close. Sometimes voting can be influenced differently — popularity, trends — but strictly based on numbers, Cooper is as good as anybody.”

The stats back up the coach's claim. Flagg is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per night, along with 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks. He posted 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists against Denver on March 26, which was followed by 24 points and 4 steals vs Portland.

Kidd stands alone as the primary voice pushing this narrative for Dallas. Kidd's stance serves as the official organizational push. 

The main competitor to Flagg's award hopes is a familiar face. Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel, Flagg's former Duke teammate, has turned this tight race into a two-man battle. 

Flagg vs Knueppel for the ROTY Race

The official Kia Rookie Ladder updates have consistently placed Knueppel at number 1, with Flagg sitting right behind him. 

Knueppel is averaging 19.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. His shooting percentage sits near an incredible 64.8 percent. He also surpassed Keegan Murray’s rookie record of 206 three-pointers back in late February. He currently sits at a huge 256 made threes for the year. 

Other rookies like VJ Edgecombe appear in the top five, but they are not viewed as serious threats for the ROTY.

When asked recently if he and Knueppel discuss the award, Flagg immediately shut the idea down.

“No, we don’t talk about Rookie of the Year at all. Not at all. But I’ve definitely kept in touch with him throughout the whole year. That’s one of my brothers, and he’ll be one of my best friends for rest of my life.” His response revealed a sense of maturity and a focus on team development. 

Does Cooper Flagg's raw production outweigh Kon Knueppel's efficiency and team success? W

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Joyita Das