Dirk Nowitzki praised Cooper Flagg for winning the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year award. Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in his rookie season.
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Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki commended Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg for winning the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year award this week.
Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 46.8% from the field in 70 appearances. He led the rookie class in scoring average and had the most 30-point games (11) by a first-year player since Victor Wembanyama in the 2023-24 season.
The No. 1 overall pick is the third player in franchise history to win, joining Luka Dončić and coach Jason Kidd. He was praised by Nowitzki for the way he handled the spotlight throughout the season and for establishing himself as a leader on the team.
"I love Kon, and I think they both deserved it," Nowitzki said on "NBA on Prime" on Wednesday. "You could have gone co-Rookie of the Year. I have watched Cooper all year long. The stuff that he had to deal with early, with all the negativity around and the booing. There was a lot happening that whole season, but the way he kept his head down, worked, got better."
Flagg joined Michael Jordan as the only rookies in history to lead their team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals since steals were first recorded in 1973-74. He is the second-youngest player to win the award (19 years, 127 days).
The former Duke All-American on April 3 became one of 10 rookies to score at least 50 points in a game. He followed that performance with a 45-point outing, joining Allen Iverson since the NBA-ABA merger with back-to-back 40-point games.
Cooper Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 46.8% from the field.
Cooper Flagg is the third player in Mavericks history to win Rookie of the Year, joining Luka Dončić and coach Jason Kidd.
Dirk Nowitzki commended Flagg for handling the spotlight well and establishing himself as a leader despite facing challenges during the season.
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Flagg arrived in Dallas, touted as a possible generational prospect who could help transform the organization after the shocking trade of Dončić. He impressed those around him, including Nowitzki, who is the Mavericks' all-time leader in several categories.
"To me, he had an incredible year," Nowitzki said. "He had a 50-ball. He had a 40-ball. He had a couple of 30-balls. He led the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. ... He had some historic numbers as a teenager. That was the crazy thing, he was only 19. Well deserved, Cooper. We're proud of you."
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Mavs news: Dirk Nowitzki commends Cooper Flagg for Rookie of the Year