DALLAS — Cooper Flagg admitted he felt “nervous” while he was parked on his couch Monday evening waiting for the NBA Rookie of the Year award to be announced. Typically, Flagg said, he received forewarning when results of an award he was up for were made public.
But not this time.
“It was probably one of the first times I won an award and I had to find out with everyone else,” Flagg said during a Wednesday news conference. “That was pretty cool.”
Flagg on Monday became the third Dallas Mavericks player, joining now-Mavericks coach Jason Kidd (1995) and Luka Dončić (2019), to be named Rookie of the Year. Flagg garnered 56 first-place votes and 412 total points. Kon Knueppel, Flagg’s college teammate at Duke, received the other 44 first-place votes and 386 total points. The 26-point gap between them was the second-smallest difference since 2002-03, when the current voting format began.
Flagg and Knueppel, who in college led the Blue Devils to a 35-4 record and a Final Four appearance, were in regular communication throughout their rookie NBA seasons. Conversations regarding the league’s top rookie accolade have always been low on their agendas.
“Me and Kon, we talked all year long,” Flagg said. “We never talked about the Rookie of the Year or what people were saying about it or anything like that. It was more just support for one another and staying in contact. He’s someone who will be one of my best friends for the rest of my life.”
Taken three spots apart in last year’s NBA Draft, Flagg and Knueppel both had historic rookie seasons. Flagg, whom the Mavericks chose No. 1 in the draft, became the first rookie since Michael Jordan to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Knueppel, the Charlotte Hornets’ selection at No. 4, made 273 3-pointers — the most of any player in the NBA and tied for the 22nd-most in one season.
Knueppel helped the Hornets (44-38) finish with a winning record for just the second time in the past decade. Flagg’s Mavericks (26-56) finished in 12th place in the Western Conference. The Mavericks entered the season with high hopes but had to adjust their expectations after star big man Anthony Davis dealt with calf and hand injuries and was traded to the Washington Wizards in February.
“Coming into this year, we all had different expectations in how we thought the year would go,” Flagg said. “But all of that is in the past. I think it’s time to move forward. Continue to grow, continue to get better and have a high outlook on how next year can go. We are just going to put in the work all summer long. I think we’re all excited for it.”
A group of roughly 100 employees from the Mavericks’ basketball and business sides cheered Flagg on Wednesday before he accepted the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy. Teammates Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Dereck Lively II, Brandon Williams and Caleb Martin were at the ceremony.
As was Kidd, who was named co-Rookie of the Year alongside Grant Hill more than three decades ago.
“That was a long time ago,” Kidd said.
Kidd made the decision early in the season to effectively play Flagg at point guard. Flagg initially appeared uncomfortable but found his footing as the season progressed. He scored 40-plus points four times — something every other rookie this season combined to do once. He had a 51-point game on April 3 against the Orlando Magic to become the only teenager in NBA history to score 50 or more.
“He loves competition,” Kidd said. “He loves both ends. He’s not one about just offense. He’s about playing the game of basketball. You have to play defense. Taking on the No. 1 defensive player every night … to be able to do what he did is remarkable.
“Well-deserved award. I think it just sets the tone for his career.”
Kidd and Flagg each sounded determined to win more games next season. Kidd didn’t make the playoffs until his third year in the NBA. The Mavericks are hopeful Flagg will be on the playoff stage in his second season.
“I think he was being honest when he said he never lost this much,” Kidd said. “For him, all the great ones go through it. I believe he’s going to be a great one. He carried a heavy load for us this year. He wasn’t afraid of the challenge.”