I’m Going With Cooper: Carmelo Anthony Makes Big Call After Historic Night
Cooper Flagg has reignited the Rookie of the Year race with a historic scoring explosion, and now even Carmelo Anthony is switching sides. After initially backing Kon Knueppel, the former All-Star admitted Flagg’s recent performances have forced a rethink, adding fresh intrigue to one of the closest award battles of the season.
- Krishna Sagar
- 3 min read
For much of the season, the Rookie of the Year race felt settled. Kon Knueppel had built a steady case. His shooting. His consistency. His role in the Charlotte Hornets’ improvement. Everything pointed in one direction. Even league voices and analysts had started leaning his way.
Cooper Flagg, despite entering the season with massive expectations, seemed to be trailing. Then everything changed.
Because in the NBA, narratives are fragile. And sometimes, one night is enough to flip the entire conversation. Flagg did not just have a big game.
He had a historic one. And suddenly, what looked like a comfortable race has turned into a real battle again.
1. The Night That Changed Everything
Against the Orlando Magic, Flagg delivered a performance that could define his rookie season. 51 points. 19-of-30 shooting. 6-of-9 from three. The most points ever scored by a teenager in NBA history.
That alone would have been enough. But it was not just about one game. It was about timing.
This was his third 40-point game of the season. It came right when the race needed a shake-up. And it reminded everyone why he was the preseason favorite in the first place.
The message was clear. Flagg is not done.
2. Carmelo Anthony Changes His Pick
The biggest shift, though, came from someone who had already made up his mind. 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony had been firmly in Knueppel’s corner for Rookie of the Year. His reasoning was simple. Winning impact matters. And Knueppel had been central to Charlotte’s turnaround.
But Flagg’s surge forced a rethink. “My pick was Knueppel… but when you look at what Cooper Flagg is actually doing, one of the youngest to score 50 the other night, back-to-back 40,” Anthony said. He did not stop there. “We talk about star power and faces of the league. Cooper has everything you could possibly want from a young superstar.”
And then came the final shift. “I don’t see too many young players have what he has. I’m going to go with Cooper.” That is not just praise. That is a vote. And in an award race this tight, voices like Anthony’s carry weight.
Flagg’s argument is built on more than highlights. Since the Dallas Mavericks reshaped their roster midseason, he has become the focal point of everything they do. The offense runs through him. The responsibility is his. And he has delivered.
- 20.8 points per game
- 6.6 rebounds
- 4.5 assists
- 47.2 percent shooting
Those are not just strong rookie numbers. They are franchise cornerstone numbers.
3. The Case for Kon Knueppel
The only issue, however, has been Mavericks’ success. Dallas sits at 24–53. And historically, that matters in award voting. But performances like his recent 51-point explosion force voters to reconsider what matters more. Impact. Or record.
On the other side, Knueppel’s case has not disappeared. Far from it. He remains one of the most efficient rookies in the league and a key reason behind the Charlotte Hornets resurgence.
- 18.8 points per game
- 5.4 rebounds
- 3.5 assists
- 43.1 percent from three
That level of shooting is rare for a rookie. And more importantly, it has translated into winning basketball.
For months, that combination made him the clear favorite. Even now, he still holds the edge in betting markets. But the gap is shrinking.
