Cooper Flagg is on the wrong side of an inexcusable Rookie of the Year bias

Cooper Flagg has delivered the goods all season long. He’s been good as advertised and then some. The prodigious 19-year-old phenom would normally be a lock for Rookie of the Year honors under normal circumstances. But alas, it seems that voter fatigue has already reared its ugly head, as the most recent NBA Kia Rookie Ladder rankings have Flagg’s Duke teammate and 3-point ace, Kon Knueppel, ranked ahead of him for top honors.

NBA critics are already taking Flagg's greatness for granted

How did we get here? Flagg went from being labeled an underachiever early in the season to now having his emerging greatness taken for granted. Now that is a quick flip.

Flagg is leading all rookies statistically this season with averages of 21.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game on 46.8 percent shooting from the field.  He competes every night and plays both ends of the floor with a tenacity that is not normal for most rookies.

Yet somehow the critics overlook that he’s doing this at only 19 years of age against the best players in the world. Against grown men. Night in and night out. And the situation Flagg thought he was coming into disintegrated quickly, with Kyrie Irving sitting out for the entire season and Anthony Davis being shipped out of town at the trade deadline.

Flagg was tasked by head coach Jason Kidd early in the season as the Mavs' new point guard while Kyrie Irving recovered from his torn left ACL. Admittedly, he stumbled out of the gate, being forced to play the game’s most cerebral position. But Flagg eventually turned the corner and has looked every bit the superstar in waiting that the Dallas front office hoped he would be.

Flagg is being asked to do things that Kneuppel never have to

Kneuppel has been afforded an easier path because he gets to play off the ball and utilize his catch-and-shoot prowess with Charlotte’s enigmatic young point guard LaMelo Ball and 2023 lottery pick Brandon Miller. Kneuppel is on a team that already has a culture in place. Flagg is in Dallas helping to create one. And the Mavs tanked this season, hoping to get Flagg the help that Kneuppel already has. Charlotte has their young core in place.

Flagg and Knueppel gave the NBA a preview of what could be a future rivalry when the former college teammates locked horns on January 29 in Dallas. Flagg set the scoring record for a teenager by pouring in 49 points along with 10 rebounds in a tough 123-121 loss to Charlotte. Kneuppel battled back by scoring 34 points and hitting a rookie franchise record eight three-pointers.

That game was a microcosm of the Flagg vs Knueppel argument. Flagg is the primary target for the opposing team’s defenses. He is who they primarily gear up to stop. Knueppel is on a team with multiple weapons that allow him to operate under less defensive pressure and expectations.

For Dallas, it's Flagg or bust. Charlotte can depend on multiple players to lead the charge, depending on who has the hot hand that night. It could be LaMelo one night, Miller the next, and then Kneuppel can get in where he fits in.

Knueppel is a valuable piece but Flagg is the engine

This isn’t to knock the 20-year-old Knueppel’s contributions this season. Kneuppel has been a great addition to the Charlotte Hornets’ young nucleus of talent as they sit in play-in contention in the 9th spot in the Eastern Conference. Knuppel boasts a solid resume this season, averaging 18.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 42.7 percent from downtown.

But the eye test should tell anyone who’s watching these games that Flagg is the clear-cut winner for Rookie of the Year and a superstar in the making. Dallas’s hopes for a championship in the future rest squarely on his shoulders. Knueppel has the luxury of spreading the wealth and responsibility.

Knueppel is a good piece on a well-oiled machine that is already running. Flagg is the sole engine on a Mavs team hoping to change their destiny in the near future. It’s time we all salute the Flagg.