
The top two picks for winning the 2025–26 NBA Rookie of the Year award happen to be former Duke teammates: Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.
Entering this NBA season, it seemed highly likely that Flagg would run away with the award as the No. 1 pick. He shined in his sole college season, and he’s brought that star power to the NBA this season. However, his former Blue Devils teammate Knueppel has made history and stood out in the league as well. He’s made a strong case for himself to win the coveted award over Flagg.