Did Kon Knueppel lose with Cooper Flagg injured in the ROTI race?

For anyone who had doubts Knuppel could coming out of the NBA draft, what are your thoughts now? The Charlotte Hornets drafted an absolute flamethrower perimeter shooter and someone who can be the face of their franchise for many years.

Although Cooper Flagg was a rookie attracting all the attention at the beginning of the yearIt is Knueppel who may just walk away with the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

Knueppel is not only tied for second in the league with LaMelo Ball and Donovan Mitchell for the most three-pointers per game this season (3.5), but lead ALL players, not just rookies, total three-pointers made after he knocked down his 201st three-pointer Tuesday night against the Chicago Bulls.

The Hornets rookie played a total of 58 games and he has already made over 200 3-pointers. He will not only be beating Keegan Murray’s rookie record of 206 three-pointers made during the 2022-23 season, but Knuepel has a chance to possibly cross the 300-point plateau before the end of the year.

Only Stephen Curry (six times), James Harden, Anthony Edwards, Malik Beasley and Klay Thompson have ever accomplished such a feat, and Knueppel was able to do it in his first NBA season. Despite only being 58 games into his NBA career, Knueppel is already accomplishing things that even Curry didn’t accomplish when he first entered the league.

Between his shooting and scoring, and the Hornets’ clear success moving up the Eastern Conference standings and becoming a competitive organization, Knuepel has cemented himself atop the NBA’s rookie rankings with just about seven weeks left in the 2025-26 season.

At the start of the year, it was a given that Flagg would win Rookie of the Year and be the face of this year’s NBA rookie class. Well, with Flagg injured and Dallas Mavericks not in a position to compete until the end of the year, this race is Knuppel’s win at the moment.

1. Kon Knuepel – Charlotte Hornets

Previous rank: #1

Stats: 58 games, 19.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 48.9 FG%, 43.6 3P%

The Hornets have battled injuries and roster changes all season. LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller missed time due to injury, and plenty of others were included outside of Charles Lee’s nightly rotations for various reasons. But the only constant in Charlotte is Knueppel, who has missed just one game this year and has been spectacular all season.

The 20-year-old shooter looks like an aging veteran on the perimeter, and has such a high understanding of how to move off the ball to create maximum space for himself. Just like Steph Curry always moves and finds open space for a 3-point attempt, Knueppel always does the same and seems like the clear answer as to who will be the best shooter in the NBA when Curry is out.

No player has ever put together a shooting season like Knuepel in their first year, and he still has 23 games left on the schedule. As mentioned earlier, there is an outside chance to approach 300 three-pointers per year, which would be a historic feat for Knuepel.

At this point, it’s hard to imagine anyone else winning NBA Rookie of the Year at this point unless Knuepel gets hurt.

2. Cooper Flag – Dallas Mavericks

Previous rank: #2

Stats: 49 games, 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 48.2 FG%, 30.2 3P%

Cooper Flagg missed four straight games before the All-Star break as a result of a left midfoot sprain revealed by MRI. While the Mavericks are clearly not in a position to compete for a playoff spot, they won’t rule Flagg out for the rest of the season and fall.

As good as Flagg has been this season, his impact hasn’t translated into wins in Dallas. The same cannot be said for Knuepel and the Hornets, such are his contributions directly related to Charlotte’s winning games. That’s why Knuepel found himself in the first place of this NBA rookie ranking at the end of the year.

What Flagg has done this season cannot be overlooked. Although he was the No. 1 pick and carried high expectations in his first season, with many saying he was America’s best draft pick since LeBron James, Flagg lived up to the hype.

Flagg has recorded seven games in which he has scored at least 30 points this season, four of which have come since Jan. 29, when he scored a career-high 49 points on 20-of-29 shooting against Knuepel and the Hornets. The All-Star potential is there for the Mavs rookie, and he will be the face of the franchise along with Kyrie Irving entering the 2026-27 season.

3. VJ Edgecombe – Philadelphia 76ers

Previous rank: #3

Stats: 54 games, 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 42.8 FG%, 36.4 3P%

With Joel Embiid out due to rest or injury, VJ Edgecombe suddenly becomes the Philadelphia 76ers’ No. 2 option alongside Tyrese Maxey. Edgecombe has thrived in his role this season, and that’s the main reason he was a standout player during All-Star Weekend at the Rising Stars event.

Scoring 23 points during the run, Edgecombe won the Rising Stars MVP title. That’s quite an accomplishment for the 76ers rookie, especially considering he’s currently overshadowed by Knuepel and Flagg.

No rookie in the league has played more minutes than Edgecombe this season, and he’s on a hot streak, scoring at least 20 points in three of the team’s four games since the All-Star break.

4. Derrick Quinn – New Orleans Pelicans

Previous rank: #4

Stats: 58 games, 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 49.0 FG%

Derrick Quinn has been one of the lone bright spots for the New Orleans Pelicans this season. Whether or not the Pelicans made the right decision by trading their 2026 first-round pick to land Quinn is open to interpretation, but the organization is very pleased with his production and rookie development.

Not only does Quinn lead all rookies in rebounding (422), but because he also leads them in total assists (234). It shows what an impact the Queen can make outside of his flashy low-post footwork and goal-scoring instincts as a new-age big man.

5. Maxime Reynaud – Sacramento Kings

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Stats: 51 games, 10.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 55.0 FG%, 25.6 3P%

One of the most surprising rookies this season was second-round pick Maxime Reynaud to the Sacramento Kings. As a result of various injuries, most notably to star big man Domantas Sabonis, the Kings were forced to thrust Rayno into an elevated role early in the season, and he has since become the focal point of their starting rotation.

Since the start of February, Reynaud has averaged 13.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting 57.5 percent from the floor. While his 3-point shooting isn’t where it was a year ago in college, Rayno is making a difference with his double-double ability.

He is definitely a new selection this year.

6. Cedric Coward – Memphis Grizzlies

Previous rank: #5

Stats: 48 games, 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 46.8 FG%, 34.0 3P%

Cedric Coward fell slightly in the NBA rookie rankings due to injuries that kept him sidelined and the Memphis Grizzlies began to decline. He recently suffered knee hyperextensionan injury that could sideline Coward for the rest of the year.

Regardless, Coward has proven to be one of the young pillars of the Grizzlies’ rebuild, and he’s one of the reasons the organization decided to part ways with Desmond Bain and Jaren Jackson Jr. Once Ja Morant is traded in the offseason, Coward will have a clear path to becoming the face of the Grizzlies with his two-way a.

7. Tre Johnson – Washington Wizards

Previous rank: #6

Stats: 44 games, 12.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 43.6 FG%, 37.0 3P%

The Washington Wizards are definitely happy with the new season that Tre Johnson has put together. In addition to being a natural shooter anywhere on the court, Johnson made a name for himself among NBA fans by finishing fifth among all rookies in three-pointers (87).

Although he’s seen less minutes and is being watched closely since returning from a hip sprain, Johnson has recorded at least 10 points in four of his last five games, with all four of his double-digit scoring results coming in less than 20 minutes.

8. Dylan Harper – San Antonio Spurs

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Stats: 46 games, 10.9 points, 3.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 47.0 FG%, 25.4 3P%

Unlike Knuepel and Flagg, Dylan Harper’s journey as a top draft pick was different as he was not immediately thrust into the spotlight. If you ask Harper, he’s in the perfect position, not only because he’s on a young championship-caliber team in the San Antonio Spurs, but he can learn from De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle in the backcourt.

There are clear areas of growth in Harper’s game since the start of the season, especially when the shooter is off the dribble and becoming a playmaker. Since the start of February, Harper has averaged 12.3 points, 4.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting a very efficient 55.6 percent from the floor.

9. Egor Demin – Brooklyn Nets

Previous rank: #9

Stats: 50 games, 10.5 points, 3.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 39.6 FG%, 38.5 3P%

Many draft experts said that Egor Demin couldn’t shoot once he graduated from college and that his game wouldn’t translate to the NBA. Well, it seems like a lot of people mistook Demin for someone else, since he was everything the Brooklyn Nets hoped he would be. reliable 3-point specialist.

Add Demin’s length and athleticism to the equation, and suddenly, the Nets have a young talent they can mold into a versatile impact guard for years to come. Demin has hit a total of 122 3-pointers this season, the second most among rookies.

10. Ace Bailey – Utah Jazz

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Stats: 51 games, 11.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 44.5 FG%, 33.2 3P%

Ace Bailey did not have a good start to the season. He struggled to find his shot and went through an early rookie learning phase with the Utah Jazz. Since the start of the new year, Bailey has looked more confident, and he’s cemented himself as a key talent in Utah’s system.

Novak has played in 21 games since the calendar flipped to 2026, and has scored at least 10 points in 16 of those games, including five 20-plus point games. Bailey also increased his rebounding effort, averaging 6.4 rebounds per game in February.