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It’s no secret that Cooper Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks’ first overall pick who won the NBA Rookie of the Year award, was part of the league’s first All-Rookie team coming out Wednesday night.
But other young and bright NBA stars were named alongside him.
Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets, Flagg’s Duke Blue Devils teammate in college and runner-up for the Rookie of the Year Award, as well as VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers were also named unanimous members of the All-Rookie First Team along with Flagg following the voter count.
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Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg dribbles 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 this year’s Rookie of the Year award.
100 team ballots were counted, and Harper was seven votes shy of another unanimous selection. He earned seven second-team votes, while Coward had 29 first-team votes and 67 second-team votes for a total of 125 points.
COOPER FLAGG WINS NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AFTER FIGHTINGS IN KON KNUEPPEL PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT INCLUDED VOTERS
Flagg narrowly beat out Knueppel, who was selected three times by the Hornets after his Duke teammate, earning 56 first-place votes compared to Knueppel’s 44 in that count. Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe finished in third place with 96 points (93 third-place votes), while Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs and Cedric Coward of the Memphis Grizzlies also earned third-place votes.
Flagg is the second-youngest player to win the award, as the 19-year-old was only behind LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
For most of the season, it looked like Knueppel was going to win the award, but several voters came out publicly and said that Knueppel’s struggles in the Play-In tournament influenced them to change their minds about Flagg.
Knueppel scored just six points on 2-of-12 shooting in 34 minutes during the Hornets’ electric 127-126 overtime victory over the Miami Heat to start the tournament. Then, in a 121-90 loss to the Orlando Magic, he went 3-for-11 for 11 points (4-for-5 from the free throw line as well), and posted a -26 while 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. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)
Flagg noted being interested in what Knueppel was doing throughout the year, showing love to his fellow rookie.
“I watch the games every night. I can check the scores,” he said of closely watching Knueppel’s stat lines, according to ESPN. “I think I was also looking at Kon just because he’s one of my brothers.
“We had such a good connection and we will be there for each other for the rest of our lives. I was also watching it 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 some NBA greats, as Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Luka Doncic were the only rookies before Flagg to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists since the NBA-ABA merger, ESPN noted. 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 surpassed him in those categories, he reestablished the rookie’s record for 3-pointers made with 273. That number also led the NBA this season. Knueppel was also a key piece in the Hornets entering the Play-In Tournament, finishing 44-38 before being eliminated by the Magic.
But none of them are yet in the NBA Playoffs, as Harper has excelled alongside his Spurs teammates, notably Victor Wembanyama, the NBA Rookie of the Year two seasons ago, 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 Moda Center. (Jaime Valdez-Image Images)
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Edgecombe also played a vital role in the 76ers’ win over 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, they were swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The All-Rookie Second Team consists of Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears of the New Orleans Pelicans, Maxime Raynaud of the Sacramento Kings, Ace Bailey of the Utah Jazz and Collin Murray-Boyles of the Toronto Raptors.
