This Rookie of the Year result would be a major gut-punch for Cooper Flagg

Dallas Mavericks fans and media members have been clamoring for Cooper Flagg to win Rookie of the Year for months now, and with the award set to be announced later today, the possibility of Flagg ending in a tie with ex-Duke roommate Kon Knueppel is something that is rightfully worrying Mavericks fans.

It would undoubtedly be a cool story if Flagg and Knueppel won Co-Rookie of the Year, given their shared history, as well as the fact that this hasn't happened since Elton Brand and Steve Francis both claimed this title back in 2000. However, Flagg cemented himself as the clear Rookie of the Year down the stretch of the season, as the dominance he showcased on both ends cleared anything Knueppel showcased.

A Flagg-Knueppel ROTY tie would be bogus

Knueppel is an advanced stats darling, and he's one of the best shooters in the league. His potential as an All-Star caliber player is clear, but he doesn't impact the game to the same extent Flagg does, nor was he tasked with handling nearly as extensive responsibilities as a rookie.

Flagg is a better ball handler and playmaker compared to Knueppel, and is a true three-level scoring threat when his outside shot is going in. He mirrors similarities from some of the game's best wings in the league, such as Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard, as he's already lethal in the mid-range and can get to the bucket at will, while being able to finish with either hand at the rim.

As for defense, there's not even a conversation to be had in terms of how much better Flagg is compared to Knueppel. Flagg is a great weak-side rim protector, competes relentlessly on every possession, and uses his length and athleticism to hawk down opposing wings and guards in one-on-one situations.

This shouldn't even be a ROTY debate

One of Knueppel's main arguments for why he should be in the conversation with Flagg is his durability and the fact that he almost helped lead the Charlotte Hornets (44-38) to the playoffs. Knueppel was a prime contributor to the Hornets' cause, sure, but they ultimately missed the playoffs after two abysmal play-in games from him.

He's probably only the third or fourth best player on the Hornets behind LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Brandon Miller, whereas Flagg was clearly the best player for the Mavericks this past season. Yes, Dallas is in the lottery and had a far worse roster than the Hornets did, but if Flagg flipped positions with Knueppel, there's no doubt the Hornets would still be standing in the playoffs right now.

It's statistically unlikely that Flagg and Knueppel both win Rookie of the Year, given how the voting system works nowadays. However, this possibility has been talked about a lot by fans and media, and if it were to occur, it would be extreme disrespect toward Flagg from the media members and analysts voting on the award.

It certainly wouldn't be the end of the world, considering the consensus was that Knueppel would win the award before the last few weeks of the season, but Flagg sealed the deal on this argument after consecutive 51-point and 45-point games in the final two weeks of the season, proving the Rookie of the Year award should go solely to him.

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