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Cooper Flagg, 19, Wins NBA Rookie of Year

5/1/2026

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Summary

Flagg Wins Rookie

Cooper Flagg (19) won the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year, receiving 56 votes to Kon Knueppel’s 44.
Flagg led Dallas in points, rebounds, assists and steals, averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals.
He recorded the league’s first teenage 51-point game and a 45-point game this season.
Flagg became the third Maverick to win award and, at 19, is the league’s second-youngest rookie of the year.

Summary

Dallas Overhauls Staff

Flagg cited WNBA No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers as his main inspiration, leading Gatorade to release a video set to her voicemail.
After a 10–34 season, the Dallas Wings fired coach Chris Koclanes and hired USF’s Jose Fernandez while the Mavericks dismissed GM Nico Harrison and appointed Michael Finley and Matt Ricardi as co-interim GMs.
Dallas traded Anthony Davis, added Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard, and drafted Azzi Fudd No. 1 overall.

History

Historical Context

In 1993, 19-year-old Shaquille O'Neal won Rookie of the Year after being the 1992 first-overall pick, averaging 23.4 points and 13.9 rebounds. His impact raised the Orlando Magic by 20 wins to a 41–41 record, but a tie-breaker denied a playoff spot. The Shaq era illustrates how teenage stars can spark franchise-wide roster and coaching overhauls.

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Flagg Wins Rookie

Cooper Flagg (19) won the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year, receiving 56 votes to Kon Knueppel’s 44.
Flagg led Dallas in points, rebounds, assists and steals, averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals.
He recorded the league’s first teenage 51-point game and a 45-point game this season.
Flagg became the third Maverick to win award and, at 19, is the league’s second-youngest rookie of the year.

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