Rookie Race Heats Up: Kon Knueppel, Cooper Flagg Headline a Historic Start to the Season
When Cooper Flagg went No. 1 overall in this summer’s NBA Draft, the Rookie of the Year buzz was already humming. After a dominant one-and-done campaign at Duke, Flagg entered the league with the kind of expectations usually reserved for generational talents - think LeBron, think Wemby.
But as we hit the one-month mark of the season, it’s not Flagg sitting atop the rookie leaderboard. It’s a familiar face - and a former teammate.
Charlotte Hornets wing Kon Knueppel has taken the early lead in the Rookie of the Year conversation, and he’s doing it in style. The sharpshooter was just named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month, while Flagg took home the Western Conference honor, marking the first time in league history that former college teammates have claimed the award in the same month. Their shared Duke roots make this moment even more special - and a little surreal.
Knueppel’s rise isn’t just about volume, it’s about efficiency - and it’s turning heads across the league.
Through 21 games, Knueppel is averaging 18.3 points per game, knocking down 3.5 threes a night on 41.5% shooting from deep. That’s not just hot - that’s historically hot for a rookie. He’s getting them up, too, launching 8.4 three-point attempts per game while logging over 33 minutes a night for a Hornets team deep in rebuild mode.
To put that in perspective, Stephen Curry - the gold standard for modern shooting - averaged just 2.1 made threes on 4.8 attempts per game in his rookie year. His efficiency was slightly better at 43%, but the volume wasn’t close. That’s why Reggie Miller, now NBC’s lead analyst, is already floating big-picture questions.
“He’s winning ROTY,” Miller said. “Dare I say this - is Stephen Curry gonna be a little nervous in about 15 years?”
That’s lofty praise, but Knueppel’s early-season pace has earned it. He’s not just hitting shots - he’s reshaping what we expect from a rookie perimeter scorer.
Meanwhile in Dallas…
Flagg may not be lighting it up from beyond the arc, but make no mistake - he’s already the Mavericks’ closer. The 18-year-old is leading all rookies in clutch points by a wide margin, and it’s not just volume - it’s efficiency under pressure.
Flagg has scored 52 clutch points this season - defined as points scored in the final five minutes of a game within five points - ranking fourth in the entire NBA behind only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham, and Tyrese Maxey. What’s more impressive? He’s shooting a blistering 59.3% in those moments - the best mark among the league’s top 10 clutch scorers.
Yes, the Mavericks lead the league in clutch games played, but that’s not a knock - it’s a proving ground. And Flagg is proving he belongs.
He’s also making history along the way. In back-to-back games at the end of November, Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to score at least 35 points in a game (Nov. 29 vs.
Clippers) and the youngest to record 10 assists in a game (Nov. 28 vs. Lakers).
That’s not just impressive - that’s record-book stuff.
On the season, Flagg is averaging 16.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 33 minutes per game. He’s not just filling the stat sheet - he’s doing it while carrying late-game responsibilities usually reserved for seasoned vets.
“It starts with my teammates,” Flagg said of his early success. “They’re just giving me a lot of confidence and helping me get in that mindset … Just having that confidence and going out there and being in attack mode from the jump.”
“Don’t second-guess yourself. Ever.
I’m here for a reason. Be who I am.”
That mindset - aggressive, confident, unshaken - is exactly what’s kept Flagg in the thick of the Rookie of the Year race, even as Knueppel’s shooting garners the spotlight.
A Two-Horse Race - For Now
It’s still early, but the Rookie of the Year race is already shaping up to be a thrilling one. Knueppel is redefining the rookie shooting curve, while Flagg is owning the clutch and rewriting the age-based record books. They’re doing it on opposite coasts, but their paths remain intertwined - from Duke teammates to NBA rivals, and now, Rookie of the Month co-winners.
If this first month is any indication, we’re watching the start of something special - not just one standout rookie season, but possibly two. And with both players already making history, the rest of the league - and the record books - better keep up.