The National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs begin April 18, and as fans reflect on the regular season of the NBA, they are now focusing on who’s going to win Rookie of the Year (ROTY). Fans only see three top contenders remaining in this annual race: Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and VJ Edgecombe.
Cooper Flagg is one of the top contenders in this race. Cooper grew up in Maine, where his mother, Kelly Flagg, was a women’s basketball athlete playing at the University of Maine. Cooper was automatically a basketball prodigy. In third grade, he was competing against sixth graders, and in eighth grade, he was facing college players. Graduating from his high school in 2024, Cooper went off to Duke University, where he would play high-level basketball with his future Rookie of the Year contender teammate, Kon Knueppel.
Fast forward to his NBA rookie career: In the preseason, he started off slow, only averaging under 20 points. Now he is averaging 21.0 points per game with a career high of 51 points. Fans argue that he is the best player on his team.
The next runner-up for the award is Kon Knueppel. Kon started off playing at his Milwaukee high school, “Wisconsin Lutheran High School,” where he became a star. Graduating in 2024, he then went to play D1 basketball with Cooper Flagg at Duke University. They would both become first-round NBA draft picks on June 25, 2025.
The last runner-up, VJ Edgecombe, is an explosive rookie playing in Philadelphia. VJ grew up in the Bahamas, where he would overcome hard struggles in life. He had to live off a generator because his electricity was very inconsistent. This motivated him to push harder to go to the NBA to escape his situation. He’s known for his smooth finishing and his dedication to giving it all that he’s got. He is currently averaging 16.0 points per game, and his team is currently in the Play-In tournament.
“I believe Kon Knueppel will win the ROTY because he broke 3pt records and helped the Hornets make the Play-In,” says local FCHS student Delonta Woodson.
“I think that Cooper Flagg will win because he has already done better than previous NBA players in their rookie years and continues to do better,” said FCHS student Quinton McCloud.
The real voting decision lies with a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from the United States and Canada. They have the opportunity to submit ballots ranking their top three picks. They will announce the official Rookie of the Year around early May. No matter who wins, all three players worked hard for the nomination and will forever be remembered for their hard work and dedication.
