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It’s no secret that Cooper Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks’ No. 1 overall pick who won the NBA Rookie of the Year award, was part of the league’s first All-Rookie team that showed up Wednesday night.
But other young and bright NBA stars have been named alongside him.
Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets, Flagg’s Duke Blue Devils teammate in college and a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award, and VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers were also unanimously named members of the All-Rookie First Team alongside Flagg after the vote 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)
The first team was rounded out by 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.
One hundred votes were tallied for the teams, and Harper was seven votes away from another unanimous selection. He received seven second-team votes, while Coward received 29 first-team votes and 67 second-team votes for a total of 125 points.
COOPER FLAGG WINS NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AFTER KON KNUEPPEL’S PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT STRUGGLES Swayed Voters
Flagg narrowly beat Knueppel, who went three picks to the Hornets after teammate Duke, earning 56 first-place votes to Knueppel’s 44 in that tally. 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 received 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 factored into their change of heart for Flagg.
Knueppel had just six points on 2-of-12 shooting in 34 minutes in the Hornets’ electric 127-126 overtime victory over the Miami Heat early in the tournament. Then, in the 121-90 loss to the Orlando Magic, he shot 3 of 11 for 11 points (4 of 5 from the free throw line as well) and was minus-26 from the field.
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. (Jérôme Miron/Imagn Images)
Flagg noted he was interested in what Knueppel was doing during the year, showing his fellow rookie some love.
“I see the games every night. I can check the scores,” he said of closely observing Knueppel’s stat lines, according to ESPN. “I also think I was looking up to Kon just because he’s one of my brothers.
“We had a really good connection and we’ll be there for each other for the rest of our lives. I was watching it as a fan as well, 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. These figures place him among the greats of the NBA, since Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Luka Doncic were the only rookies before Flagg to have averaged at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists since the NBA-ABA merger, highlighted ESPN. Flagg also led all rookies in scoring this season.
As for Knueppel, he gave up 18.5 points per game to go with 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists, but while Flagg had him beat in those categories, he reset the rookie 3-point record with 273. That number also led the NBA this season. Knueppel also played a key role in the Hornets’ entry into the Play-In Tournament, finishing 44-38 before being eliminated by the Magic.
But none of them are in the NBA playoffs yet, as Harper has excelled alongside his Spurs teammates, including 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 3-pointer over Portland Trail Blazers PG Jrue Holiday at Moda Center. (Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images)
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Edgecombe also played a vital role in the 76ers’ upset of the Boston Celtics in a shock first round, coming back from a 3–1 deficit to win the series in Game 7. Unfortunately for Edgecombe and his teammates, the New York Knicks swept them 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.
