Dallas Mavericks rookie forward Cooper Flagg has been announced as the NBA Rookie of The Year for the 2025-26 season, with 412 points on the voting ballot.
Flagg, who turned 19 back in December, won the prestigious award over his college teammate and close friend, Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets. Knueppel was the runner-up with 386 points. The third ROY finalist, VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers, received 96 points.
Flagg completed an impressive and historic rookie season as the youngest player in the NBA. The No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Those numbers put him in rare-air status as 1 of only 4 rookies in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. The other three? Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Luka Doncic. Flagg is also the first rookie since Jordan to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals.
The winner of the award is selected by 100 reporters and broadcasters who cover the league. On the ballot, they rank their top three rookies of the year. First-place votes are worth 5 points, second-place votes are worth 3 points, and third-place votes are worth 1 point.
Others who received votes included San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (5 points) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Cedric Coward (1 point). Coward was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the No. 11 pick before being traded to the Grizzlies for the No. 16 pick Yang Hansen, a 2028 first-round pick via Orlando, and two future second-round picks.
