NEW YORK — The NBA announced Monday, April 27, 2026, that forward Cooper Flagg has been voted Rookie of the Year, narrowly surpassing fellow first-year standout and former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel.
The league said the balloting was one of the closest in recent memory, with Flagg finishing just ahead of Knueppel in the final tally. Specific vote totals were not immediately released.
Flagg and Knueppel shared the court at Duke University before entering last year’s NBA draft, making this season’s rookie race a continuation of their collegiate rivalry. Both players were key contributors throughout the regular season, keeping the competition for the award tight until the final votes were counted.
The Rookie of the Year honor is presented annually to the league’s most outstanding first-year player, as determined by a media panel.
Source: New York Post
