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Tim MacMahon
Multiple Authors
DALLAS — This is a night that Cooper Flagg will likely reminisce about with his former Duke classmate Kon Knueppel for years to come.
It’s a sentiment that resonates with everyone present at the American Airlines Center who experienced the electrifying match on Thursday, showcasing the first NBA encounter between the front-runners for Rookie of the Year.
Flagg, the top draft pick, scored 49 points, marking a record for NBA teenagers and surpassing the Dallas Mavericks’ previous rookie record he held with Mark Aguirre, who had his No. 24 jersey retired during halftime.
Meanwhile, Knueppel, selected at No. 4, tallied 34 points and made pivotal plays in the closing seconds, ensuring a 123-121 victory for the Charlotte Hornets, their fifth consecutive win. He forced Flagg into a turnover with just 7.6 seconds left and sank the decisive free throws after being fouled by his friend during a fast break.
Flagg’s contested jumper hit the back of the rim as time expired.
“What a wild finish to an incredible game,” Knueppel remarked. “He was undoubtedly the best player on the court tonight. Honestly, he’s probably the best opponent we’ve faced all season. Competing against the best is exhilarating, and our friendship adds a unique element to the rivalry. It was truly enjoyable.”
Flagg (-400) and Knueppel (+280) came into the game as the favorites for Rookie of the Year per DraftKings Sportsbook, generating excitement around a late-January matchup between two underperforming teams. They exceeded expectations by becoming the first duo of college teammates to each score over 30 points against each other as rookies.
ESPN Research revealed that their combined 83 points were the highest for a rookie pair in a single game since Tiny Archibald and Pete Maravich combined for 91 in 1971.
“It’s amazing,” Flagg said about his competition with Knueppel for Rookie of the Year. “I couldn’t ask for a better situation. We’ll both look back on this night and this entire year for the rest of our lives; it’s something truly special to have this chance.”
Knueppel believes that his chances of winning that award may have diminished due to Flagg’s record-breaking night.
“We both aspire to win, but it’s not something we discuss,” said Knueppel, currently averaging 18.9 points with an impressive effective field goal percentage of 61.1%, the highest for a rookie at that scoring level. “This was an incredible game. He probably surpassed me with that 49 and 10 [rebounds], but it’s all good. Awards are nice, but what matters more is the team’s success.”
“Who knows? I’m just pleased we secured the win. That’s what’s most important to me.”
Knueppel, shooting 10-of-16, set a franchise rookie record for the Hornets with eight three-pointers out of 12 attempts, including three long-range shots in the game’s opening minutes.
“Not great,” Flagg said, reflecting on Knueppel’s hot start. “Having played with him last year, I know that once a shooter like him starts seeing early shots go in, it’s trouble. You really want to prevent open shots and allow him to get into a rhythm.”
Flagg, who surpassed Knueppel as the rookie scoring leader at 19.5 points per game, picked up steam in the second quarter with 23 points, finishing the third quarter with 40. He joined LeBron James and Anthony Edwards as the only teenagers in NBA history to have multiple 40-point games.
With Flagg’s extraordinary performance set for a cinematic finish, he sank a pull-up three-pointer with 33.5 seconds remaining to tie the game at 121-121, then secured a defensive rebound on the next possession. yet, the Hornets devised a plan to keep Flagg from becoming the hero, doubling him to force a pass after he dribbled above the arc. Knueppel expertly timed the double-team, knocking the ball away, and their former Duke teammate Sion James passed it to Knueppel, igniting a fast break.
“As expected, our guy made the pivotal play when it mattered,” remarked Hornets coach Charles Lee, who had hailed Knueppel’s defensive skills before the game. “[He had] the instinct to double-team at the right moment, recognizing a situation where it made sense. With a guy scoring 49 points, you want to slow him down and force someone else to win the game.”
At just 19 years old, Flagg took responsibility for the late-game misexecutions.
“I’m still learning about end-of-game situations,” said Flagg, who exchanged jerseys postgame with Hornets rookie Liam McNeeley, his teammate from Montverde Academy. “I’m always striving to improve. It’s not like I struggle with it, but I’ve faced a lot of double-teams, so I need to figure out how to perform effectively in those situations. I’ve got to do better.”
Flagg wrapped up the night with an impressive 20-of-29 shooting, becoming the first rookie since Brandon Jennings in November 2009 to make at least 20 field goals in a game, when Jennings scored 55 points. Flagg went 3-of-5 from deep but primarily excelled in the paint, scoring 28 points there.
“He is focused on winning rather than just stats,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd. “That’s his character. For someone who thinks this way, he’s on the path to becoming a champion sooner rather than later. He continues to work hard and tried to carry his team to victory tonight.”
