Mavericks' Cooper Flagg headlines finalists for NBA Rookie of the Year

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel and Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe were named the finalists for the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year award, the league announced on Sunday.

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 Wembanyama in the 2023-24 season.

Knueppel finished by averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 42.5% from 3-point range in 81 appearances. He became the first rookie in history to lead the league in 3-pointers (273) and was one of two first-year players with five or more 30-point games.

Edgecombe posted averages of 16 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals on 35.4% shooting from beyond the arc in 75 games with the Sixers. He led the NBA in loose balls recovered (79) and was third in scoring among rookies.

Flagg, Knueppel and Edgecombe were selected as finalists for Rookie of the Year based on the voting results from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. The ballots, which were announced on NBC, were due from voters on Friday at 3 p.m. EDT.

While three players were announced as the finalists, the race is projected to be very close between Flagg and Knueppel. The winner will be announced during the playoffs.

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: NBA: Mavericks' Cooper Flagg headlines Rookie of the Year finalists