We are now past the midway point of the 2025–26 NBA season, and while there are plenty of storylines, this year's rookie class has lived up to the hype. Unsurprisingly, it's been headlined by No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg and his former Duke teammate, No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel.
Flagg was selected by the Dallas Mavericks, while Knueppel landed with the Charlotte Hornets. Both spent just one season at Duke, where they were also roommates.
They’ve quickly adapted to the NBA game and already carved out significant roles with their respective franchises, positioning themselves as cornerstones for years to come.
Following a recent head-to-head matchup - their first as NBA opponents - Flagg erupted for 49 points, while Knueppel scored 34 and led Charlotte to the win. That performance, along with a dominant stretch of play, earned the former duo Western and Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors, the NBA announced Tuesday.
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Other nominees for the honor included Ace Bailey, Cedric Coward, Caleb Love, and Derik Queen in the Western Conference, along with Egor Demin, VJ Edgecombe, Tre Johnson, and Collin Murray-Boyles in the East.
During the month of January, Flagg averaged 20.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, while Knueppel posted 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. Knueppel played a key role in the Hornets' seven-game winning streak, which began Jan. 22.
On the season, Knueppel has appeared in 50 games, averaging 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 48.2% from the field and 42.5% from three-point range.
Flagg has mirrored that success across 45 games, averaging 19.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks per contest.
Newsweek