Draymond Green selects Kon Knueppel as the Rookie of the Year for winning contributions

Draymond Green selects Kon Knueppel as the Rookie of the Year for winning contributions originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Before the 2025-26 season started, most people had Cooper Flagg as the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award. Considering he played for the Dallas Mavericks, winning was never a significant reason behind his campaign for the award.

On the other hand, Kon Knueppel was the fourth overall pick for the Charlotte Hornets, three picks after Flagg. Despite the Hornets not being a top team, Knueppel's arrival helped them reach the cusp of the postseason.

Kon Knueppel's contributions to the Hornets' wins could earn him ROY

As one of the most experienced players in the league, Draymond Green knows what it takes to win awards. He has a Defensive Player of the Year award, which came from anchoring the Golden State Warriors' elite defense.

While Rookie of the Year is a regular season award, it does not take winning into account for the most part. Numbers are often the primary reasoning, but it seems success could be the tipping point for this year's race.

MORE:Kon Knueppel becomes the first rookie to ever lead the NBA in made three-pointers

Flagg had a late-season flurry, where he had games of scoring over 40 and 50 points. It was proof that he can be the more talented Duke product, but it seems that people like Draymond are convinced that Knueppel is the deserving ROY.

"I know everyone says ‘rookie of the year isn’t an award that goes off winning.’ When did winning stop mattering for anything? Basketball is about winning and losing. He has affected winning in a major way. I think that has to count for something," Green said about Rookie of the Year on his podcast.

It will be a fun dynamic to look into because Knueppel and Flagg are both deserving. However, it seems Green and other people believe that being the primary reason behind a team's surprising postseason pursuit.

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• Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball called the new Splash Brothers
• Carmelo Anthony loves how LaMelo Ball is leading the Charlotte Hornets