“Brothers for Life”, Cooper Flagg and Kon Knuepel were delighted!
Zion Williamson vs Ja Morant. We probably have to go back to January 2020 to find traces of an anticipated matchup like this against two of the best rookies of the season, Cooper Flagg etc when Club. The opposition is increasingly publicized as the two are friends in life after playing a season together at Duke.
And their duel fulfilled all the promises with every career record (49 points for Flagg; 34 for Knuepel), and above all the crazy “mooney time” that the Hornets’ scorer got for win the victory : 123 – 121.
“Amazing! Everyone knows he was my roommate last year. Experiencing an evening like this with him…” reacts the Dallas winger. “I know how unique he is and how hard he gives. In ten years or more, we’re both going to look back on this moment as something really special. We’re both going to be in this league for a long time. He’s my brother for life.”
Who is the Rookie of the Year?
It’s unclear who will be named Rookie of the Year at the end of the season, but both were at their best tonight. It was Knuepel who struck first, in Klay Thompson fashion. Then Flagg warmed up to set the franchise record, under the eyes of its holder Marco Aguirre, and even the NBA record with his 49 points at the age of 19.
“An incredible match to experience as a player, coach or fan,” I assure Jason Kidd. “There was a lot of good basketball in the money. Our group fought and found a way to get back into the game. Cooper was amazing: most points for a rookie, broke Aguirre’s record. A lot happened tonight for this young man. And in the money, he was great. He hit a huge 3-pointer.”
But Knuepel ruined his night with this cut and two game-winning free throws. “We were trying to stop Cooper from getting the ball at the end because he already had 49 points” says the hero of the evening. “So we came to get it together, he brought the ball out and I kind of predicted it. I managed to get my hands on it, and Sion made an amazing move to jump to retrieve the ball, with the lucidity to bring it back to our camp towards me. I then drew a foul and got two free throws. Absolutely crazy finish to an outstanding match.”
They are not afraid
For Charles Lee, Cohn Knuppel is of the same mold as Cooper Flagg. They are “brothers in life”, but also in play and attitude.
“He solves everything the same way, and that’s what I love about him,” Charles Lee testifies about his rookie. “Nothing is too big. Nothing is too small. He sees every day as an opportunity to improve. It’s never focused on him or this single duel, but I think he improves in those moments. He’s not afraid of anything.”
And it was only their first duel, and the future looks bright for both of them, and even for their franchises that are fighting for a place in the “play-in”.
2026-01-30 07:58:00
