We are officially halfway through the NBA season, and the league has already cranked the hype to a new level following this week’s announcement of the All-Star starters for the inaugural “Team USA vs. Team World” format. The upcoming showcase at the Intuit Dome highlights a massive generational bridge; Stephen Curry stands as the veteran anchor at 37, while Team World’s Victor Wembanyama represents the future at just 22.
However, the real conversation starts next week when the NBA announces the seven reserves per conference. All eyes are on Cooper Flagg. If the Dallas rookie gets the nod, he will be the first rookie voted into the All-Star Game since Blake Griffin in 2011, and the youngest to ever take the court, surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 1998 record by mere days.
Cooper Flagg’s Rookie Season Mirrors Michael Jordan’s
Why am I pounding the table for Flagg? For starters, he has been the only consistent bright spot in Dallas this year. With just 42 games under his belt, he is already playing with the poise of a ten-year veteran, stepping into a massive leadership role following the recurring injuries to Anthony Davis.
Flagg is currently leading the Mavericks in points (18.8) and steals (1.3), while ranking second in assists (4.1) and third in rebounds (6.4). At just 19 years old, he has a legitimate chance to join Michael Jordan as the only rookie to lead their team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals since the 1973-74 season.
While the current record holders for leading a team in all those categories are star players like Luka Doncic (2021), Michael Jordan (1985), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (2017), all of those players were 22 when they pulled it off. Even if Flagg doesn’t finalize the sweep this year, he still has two more seasons to join that elite superstar company as the youngest to ever do it.
The road to the All-Star game won’t be easy, though; for Flagg to make the cut, he’ll likely need an injury replacement to open a door, given that the Western Conference reserve pool is absolutely loaded with heavyweights like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Edwards, and Jamal Murray.
The 2026 ROY Duel Between Flagg and Knueppel
The Rookie of the Year race has officially narrowed down to a two-horse sprint between former Duke teammates. While Flagg is doing the heavy lifting in Dallas, Kon Knueppel is busy lighting it up for the Charlotte Hornets. Their styles couldn’t be more different; Knueppel has emerged as a generational sharpshooter, shattering rookie three-point records and providing the Hornets with an elite scoring punch. However, Flagg’s case for being “better” rests on the sheer weight of his responsibilities.
Unlike Knueppel, who benefits from playing alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, two stars who command high usage and defensive attention, Flagg has been forced to operate as the primary engine in Dallas. He is yet to share a significant stretch of floor time with Kyrie Irving, which would finally take some of the playmaking pressure off his shoulders.
While Knueppel’s efficiency is undeniable, Flagg’s ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor while carrying a franchise’s offensive burden gives him a slight edge in a race that looks like it will go down to the final week of the season.
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