New ROTY Cooper Flagg Got His Welcome to the League Moment From Victor Wembanyama

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg had a phenomenal rookie season and was the preseason favorite to win the ROTY award.

New ROTY Cooper Flagg Got His Welcome to the League Moment From Victor Wembanyama

Cooper Flagg and Victor Wembanyama (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Cooper Flagg was awarded the NBA's Rookie of the Year after a competitive season.
  • His welcome-to-the-league moment came in his first game against Victor Wembanyama.
  • Kon Knueppel finished just 26 points behind Flagg in the ROTY voting, marking a close race.

Even before he stepped foot on an NBA floor, many predicted that Cooper Flagg and Victor Wembanyama would be the young superstars to lead the league into a new era.

The latter was a 7’4″ center with the agility and skills of a guard. Even though there have been others to have similar attributes, it was Wemby who first proved to the world how devastating he can be.

After injuries curtailed his sophomore season, the Frenchman came back with a mission and has so far racked up the Defensive Player of the Year award, along with leading his San Antonio Spurs to a commanding playoff series lead over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Team-wise, Cooper Flagg did not have a season to remember. But individually, the Maine native was doing everything that was expected of him. Now, he has been awarded the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.

While speaking with the crew of NBA Showtime on NBC, they asked him if he had experienced his welcome-to-the-league moment.

I look back to the first game… Being matched up with Victor. That was a different experience. He came out dunking from everywhere on the court, hitting step-back 3s. It was definitely one of those moments for sure.

Cooper Flagg replied

This answer left the three Hall of Famers and host Maria Taylor in splits. They knew that facing a healthy and motivated Victor Wembanyama is a problem for most seasoned players. But to face him in Flagg’s first game in the NBA must have been some experience.

Cooper Flagg was keeping tabs on fellow rookie and Duke teammate Kon Knueppel’s campaign

While talking about his rookie campaign, the cast of NBA Showtime asked Cooper Flagg whether he had kept tabs on the Rookie of the Year runner-up and former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel.

Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg
Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg (Image via Bleacher Report/X)

For sure. I see the game every night and check the box score… I was also watching Kon because that’s one of my brothers… We are going to be there for each other for the rest of our lives.

Cooper Flagg replied

The two came into the league after a great year at their alma mater, and were not going to let their ROTY competition come between their friendship.

At the same time, Flagg accepting that he was keeping tabs on the Hornets guard’s progress was enough indication that he was probably happy with his ‘brother’s’ progress, but was also looking over his shoulder.

Kon Knueppel finished just 26 points behind Cooper Flagg. That happens to be the closest Rookie of the Year votes the award has experienced since its inception.

Journalist claims Kon Knueppel was ahead of Cooper Flagg in ROTY race

When Cooper Flagg was drafted, no one expected him to struggle to close out the Rookie of the Year award in the manner in which it has unfolded.

He was supposed to run away with the award. But Kon Knueppel and Philadelphia 76ers’ guard VJ Edgecombe‘s performances, to some extent, kept the race alive.

Several NBA media voters publicly admitted to the play-in tournament changing their minds from Knueppel to Flagg.

Brett Siegel wrote on X

The Clutch Points writer revealing this suggests that voters were probably inclined to give the fourth-overall pick the award. But his performances in the play-in games changed their minds.

The Milwaukee native shot 23.4% from the field and converted an even more disappointing one out of the 12 attempts he had from beyond the three-point line.

Those struggles were in sharp contrast to the otherworldly efficiency he was producing during the regular season. Maybe that was enough for voters to feel that Cooper Flagg, who does not shy away from the moment, deserved it more.

Also Read: