The regular season ended for the NBA on Sunday night, and for Duke rookies, it marked the end of a remarkable season.
Phoenix Sun Khaman Maluach finished on a high note, with 18 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks.
Cleveland Cavalier Tyrese Proctor was close to a triple-double, with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists.
In New York, Sion James wrapped up the regular season with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Kon Knueppel finished with 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. He also finished the season with 273
three-pointers, the first time a rookie has ever led the NBA, but just barely: Charlotte teammate LaMelo Ball finished with 272.
Meanwhile, for Dallas, Cooper Flagg’s spectacular first season came to a premature end. He played just 10 minutes before he sprained an ankle. However, he left the game with 10 points, 4 rebounds, and an assist.
Which brings us back to perhaps the most interesting story of the NBA season: the riveting battle for Rookie of the Year between Flagg and Knueppel.
It’s really too close to call, isn’t it? In this video, Doc Rivers argues that if you go by the numbers, Flagg should get it, but if you go by the impact on his team, Knueppel should.
Rivers says something amazing about Knueppel: “He’s changed the culture of an organization which has had cultural problems.”
We’ve suggested this too. His impact on the Hornets has been amazing.
So how do you resolve this? We don’t know, but we do know this: Flagg would give Knueppel the trophy in a heartbeat if the Mavericks were still playing like the Hornets will be.
There’s only one way for this to end: Co-Rookies of the Year. Nothing else would be fair.
- Can Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel please share the NBA Rookie of the Year
- Hornets’ LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel pull off ultra-rare Splash Brothers feat
- Hornets’ Kon Knueppel sets NBA rookie record for 3-pointers made
- Cooper Flagg suffers ankle injury Sunday
- NBA Fans Hail Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball Replicating Steph Curry and Klay Thompson’s Prime With Season 3-Point Title Race
- “He was not allowed to jack up 3s” – Ex-Hornets Takes Sharp Swipe at Kon Knueppel’s 3-pt Record Involving Ray Allen
- Johnson non-committal on whether Flagg or Knueppel should win top rookie award
- Cooper Flagg’s season ends as the rookie No. 1 pick of the Mavs exits finale with ankle injury
- Kon Knueppel just made NBA history, and now the Rookie of the Year race feels wide open
- Hornets Rookie Kon Knueppel Called ‘No Brainer’ for Postseason Honor
- Cooper Flagg is on the wrong side of an inexcusable Rookie of the Year bias
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