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Cooper Flagg, the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, faces challenges in his rookie season due to injuries and competition from former teammate Kon Knueppel. Despite this, he has set impressive records, becoming only the second rookie to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals, averaging 21.0 points per game.
Cooper Flagg entered the 2025-26 NBA season as the clear favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award after being the top overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks. Due to a few setbacks because of injuries and the play of former teammate and roommate Kon Knueppel with the Charlotte Hornets, that prophecy might go unfilled for Flagg.
Still, itās not going to stop him from being the player he wants to be in the future if he doesnāt win the award.
āObviously, Iād be disappointed,ā Flagg said. āItās something I think all rookies strive for. Thatās an award they want to get. I would definitely be disappointed. But at the end of the day, I think I went out there and showed what Iām capable of.ā
Flaggās rookie season was full of record-setting marks, becoming only the second player ever to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals as a rookie, joining Michael Jordan. In 70 games, the 2025 Wooden Award winner averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the floor.
Heās won the praise of his teammates, including future NBA Hall of Famer Klay Thompson.
āCoopās been amazing,ā Thompson said. āThere hasnāt been many teenagers ā maybe none ā to do what heās done. So you got to remind yourself he is only 19.
āThe futureās so bright for him. The thing Iām most impressed with at such a young age is heās able to get any shot he wants. So as the years progress, heās just going to get more efficient and Mavericksā fans should be elated they have such a talent to build around for a decade-plus.ā
This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Cooper Flagg opens up on rookie season with Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the floor.
Cooper Flagg is competing against his former teammate Kon Knueppel, who plays for the Charlotte Hornets, for the Rookie of the Year award.
Cooper Flagg became only the second player in NBA history to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals as a rookie, joining Michael Jordan.
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