Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks has emerged as the frontrunner for the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year award, according to recent rankings. The rookie has shown improved efficiency and versatility on both ends of the court. Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets ranks second, highlighting a strong start for the incoming class.
The 2026 NBA rookie class has made an early impact through the first two months of the season, with Cooper Flagg leading the pack in the latest rankings from CBS Sports. Flagg, playing for the Dallas Mavericks, recently contributed 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block in a win against the Houston Rockets. His efficiency stands out, shooting over 50% from the floor in seven of his last 12 games and over 60% in four of those. Flagg has tallied 52 clutch points, ranking fourth in the league, and converts mid-range shots at a 46% rate, placing him in the 84th percentile.
Kevin Durant praised Flagg's development, saying, "Just from watching his film, he's finally figuring it out. They're also doing a good job of taking him off the ball some and letting [Ryan] Nembhard and Brandon Williams control the game and he can just float around and be an all-around player. When you play him at the point, I feel like you're limiting his game. He's playing a well-rounded game. He can shoot the jump shot off the middy, he can shoot the 3, he can get to the rim. I love his game." Durant previously predicted Flagg would be "one of the best of all time." As the betting favorite at -140 odds on DraftKings, Flagg's confidence and aggressiveness have elevated his game after an experimental start at point guard.
Ranking second is Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets. Since LaMelo Ball's return in mid-November, the duo has shared the floor for 208 minutes, boosting the Hornets' offensive rating to 117.7—6.3 points above the team average and eighth in the league. Knueppel remains efficient and is on pace to break the rookie three-point record, excelling in mid-range and drives while complementing Ball and Brandon Miller.
In third is Derik Queen of the New Orleans Pelicans, who recorded the first 30-point triple-double with four blocks by a rookie in NBA history against Luke Kornet. Despite criticism of the Pelicans' trade for the 13th overall pick—sending their 2026 first-rounder to the Atlanta Hawks—Queen's vision and scoring suggest a bright future alongside fourth-ranked Jeremiah Fears. Fears has improved his three-point shooting to 42% on 3.1 attempts per game, enhancing his rim attacks.
Rounding out the top five is Cedric Coward of the Memphis Grizzlies, now a full-time starter who posted a double-double in a win over the Clippers, showcasing strong inside scoring despite a dip in three-point efficiency.
Other notables include VJ Edgecombe's all-around contributions and Dylan Harper's 13 points on 46% shooting off the bench for the Spurs amid Victor Wembanyama's absence.
