Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks has been named the NBA Rookie of the Year, edging out his former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel. Flagg had a remarkable season, setting multiple records for an NBA teenager, including becoming the first rookie to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals since Michael Jordan in the 1984-85 season. Despite the Mavericks' difficult season, Flagg's impressive performance earned him the top rookie honor.
Flagg and Knueppel, both 19 years old, finished first and second in rookie scoring, a feat last achieved by former college teammates Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon in 2004-05. Flagg acknowledged keeping a close eye on Knueppel's performance throughout the season, citing their strong bond as former teammates. The NBA Rookie of the Year award was the sixth to be announced since the end of the regular season. In other NBA news, the Oklahoma City Thunder completed a four-game sweep against the Phoenix Suns, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 31 points and Chet Holmgren adding 24.
The Thunder will face the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets series in the Western Conference semi-finals.