Flagg and Knueppel Turn Rookie Race into a Private Duel
NEW YORK, December 25, 2025 – The NBA’s Christmas Day showcase is traditionally a demarcation line, the moment the season shifts from introductory skirmishes to serious warfare. But for the 2026 rookie class, the hierarchy has already calcified into a familiar, albeit intense, two-man standoff.
Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel have spent the opening months of their professional careers turning the Rookie of the Year chase into an exclusive duel. The former Duke teammates, once united in Durham, have effectively separated themselves from the field with a string of sensational performances leading up to the holiday.
While the rest of the rookie class is finding its footing, Flagg and Knueppel remain locked in a neck-and-neck sprint, trading big nights and highlight reels. Their dominance has created a significant gap between the top two spots and the rest of the lottery picks. It isn’t just about statistics; it is about the poise and impact they are displaying nightly, steering clear of their rivals with a consistency usually reserved for veterans.
While the headlines belong to the Duke duo, the depth of this rookie crop remains compelling. The “best of the rest”—a group featuring Derik Queen, VJ Edgecombe, and Dylan Harper—continue to produce high-level basketball, keeping the weekly power rankings fluid below the top tier.
Players like Cedric Coward, Jeremiah Fears, and Egor Demin have also carved out significant roles, ensuring that while the trophy might be out of reach for now, the race for All-Rookie team honors will be a dogfight. This class is proving to be deep and versatile, but until someone else can match the relentless pace set by Flagg and Knueppel, the narrative will remain focused on the civil war at the summit.
The former Duke teammates have steered clear of their rivals after sensational weeks where they again remained neck-and-neck.” –
Context: This observation highlights the separation tier that has emerged. Despite a deep class filled with talent like Queen and Edgecombe, the consistency of Flagg and Knueppel has turned a crowded field into a binary conversation.
Heading into the New Year, the Rookie of the Year race has a distinct flavor of sibling rivalry. Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel are pushing each other to heights the rest of the class can’t quite reach yet. For the chasing pack, the challenge is clear: elevate your game, or watch the former Blue Devils run away with the hardware.
