Dallas Mavericks rookie Coooper Flagg won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in a close race with former Duke teammate and current Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knuepple, but DP never had a doubt about who should win. While he agrees Knueppel might have deserved the award in any other year for setting the rookie 3-point scoring record, he reminds us that Flagg was busy carrying his team and winning basketball games.
Dan Patrick: “Cooper Flagg was the best rookie this year. And he was far more than just that. When you say to a 19-year-old, ‘Go out there and you got to get 25 a night. We need you to score.’ If Kon Knueppel hits five threes, we go, ‘Man, he added to his 3-point total.’ Cooper Flagg had to go out and win games. Kon Knueppel didn't have to win. And look, what he did in any other year; he might win a rookie of the year. Not this year. Cooper Flagg was the best rookie by far, in my opinion.”