Kelly Flagg, Cooper Flagg’s mother, wants her son to have the biggest Rookie of the Year competition on the Mavericks. But Charlotte Hornets’ rookie Kon Knueppel is cooking something big, and that didn’t go unnoticed by Kelly. So, she is already dreaming about a Duke reunion with Dallas.
Cooper Flagg’s mom hints at Duke reunion after Kon Knueppel’s rise
Kalshi Sports posted updated ROTY odds this Tuesday on X. According to their report, Knueppel had surged to 27 percent, sitting second only to Flagg's 53 percent. VJ Edgecombe slid to 13 percent. Now, more than halfway through the season, the rookie of the year race is finally looking interesting.
Kelly's response to that post about Knueppel's odds was pretty direct. "He is an amazing young man and player. Would love him in Dallas!" She wrote.
Not to mention, indirectly she acknowledged both the threat and the bond itself. For the unversed, Knueppel and Cooper spent one season together at Duke before going separate ways in the 2025 NBA draft. The duo helped Duke win a lot of games, finishing with a strong 35–4 record in their freshman college campaign.
However, the former brothers are rivals now, and Knueppel is legitimately challenging Flagg's frontrunner status. The Charlotte guard is averaging 17.6 points and six boards through 14 games while shooting lights out from deep. He has scored 20-plus points in six out of the 14 games, including two 30-plus scores.
As the NBA calendar year moves, his IQ shines through every possession. Meanwhile, Flagg's adjusting to life in Dallas. The Mavs sit at 4-11, throwing the No. 1 pick into the fire immediately. He's averaging 15.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists across 15 games. Dallas has experimented with him at point guard, which forced a steep learning curve.
Flagg and Knueppel will meet twice this season when Dallas visits Charlotte in January and March. Those games now will carry extra juice for sure as Knueppel becomes one of the main players standing between Flagg and a potential Rookie of the Year trophy.
Despite what Kelly wants, Charlotte won’t trade Knueppel, even with a 4–10 record. After a strong draft, the franchise finally has direction and isn’t willing to give up their future to team up with Flagg.
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