The competition for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award appears to be primarily between Charlotte Hornets wing Kon Knueppel and Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg. Both players have showcased impressive performances, but Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green recently expressed his belief that Knueppel could gain an edge in the race under certain circumstances.
Draymond Green’s Perspective on Kon Knueppel’s Advantage
On a recent episode of his podcast, The Draymond Green Show, Green outlined a scenario where Knueppel’s impact on the Hornets’ playoff positioning could be the decisive factor in his Rookie of the Year bid. Green noted the importance of Knueppel leading the Hornets to the play-in tournament as a key differentiator from Flagg.
“I think the Rookie of the Year comes down to these two guys. I think with the way Kon is playing and how vital he’s been. The other night, Cooper Flagg had 49 on 29 [shots]. Kon Knueppel had 34 on 8-of-12 from three,”
Green said.
“The way he’s playing, and that team getting to the play-in game, that has to solidify Kon as Rookie of the Year.”
The Competition Intensifies as the Season Winds Down
Green emphasized that the battle for the award is likely to be decided in the closing 30 games of the season, highlighting the close nature of the race and the performances of both rookies.
“I think this battle is going down to the wire. It’s being fought over these last 30 games to end the season,”
Green added.
“I still stand by my prediction from before, I still think Kon comes home with it, but it was good to see that battle between two young college teammates. . .to see them battle like that in the NBA in their rookie year, definitely a sign of things to come for those two guys as they move forward in their careers.”
Key Matchup Between Former College Teammates
The two former Duke teammates recently faced each other, with Knueppel’s Hornets narrowly defeating Flagg’s Mavericks, 123-121. In that game, Flagg scored a career-high 49 points along with 10 rebounds, three assists, and a blocked shot, while Knueppel contributed 34 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
Statistical Overview and Playoff Implications
Currently, Flagg leads all rookies in scoring with an average of 19.8 points per game, closely followed by Knueppel at 18.8 points per game. Reflecting Green’s insight, the Hornets are currently just 1.5 games behind the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference and have won six consecutive games, positioning them for a potential play-in appearance. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have dropped four straight games and are falling further behind in their quest for the play-in tournament.
Draymond Green says that if the Hornets make the Play-In Tournament, Kon Knueppel will win Rookie of the Year 👀
“The way he is playing and [if] that team gets to the Play-In Game. That has to solidify Kon for Rookie of the Year.”
(via @DraymondShow)pic.twitter.com/6X4QF4twBS
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 2, 2026
