When the 2025-26 NBA season began, all eyes were on Dallas Mavericks’ forward Cooper Flagg. The consensus #1 overall pick was expected to run away with the Rookie of the Year award, and for the first few months, he looked the part.
But as we hit the mid-March stretch, the narrative has officially shifted. While Flagg is having a stellar individual season, Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel has hijacked the conversation, transforming himself from a surprise contributor into the undeniable frontrunner for the prestigious honor.
And he’s doing it by putting together one of the greatest shooting seasons rookie or otherwise in NBA history.
Leading the Entire NBA from Downtown
We knew Knueppel could shoot coming out of college, but nobody predicted this.
The main catalyst for Knueppel’s Rookie of the Year surge is his absolute dominance from beyond the arc. As of today, March 15, 2026, Kon Knueppel doesn’t just lead all rookies in made three-pointers he leads the entire NBA.
With over 233 made threes on the season, he easily shattered Keegan Murray’s rookie record (206) weeks ago. Now, he’s on pace to become the first rookie in history to finish an NBA season ranked #1 in total three-pointers made.
What makes this volume even more terrifying for opposing defenses is his efficiency. He is shooting a blistering 44% from deep on incredibly high volume. This historic shooting barrage has vaulted his scoring average to 19.2 points per game, making him the primary offensive threat for a surprisingly competitive Hornets team.
The Winning Factor
While individual statistics are crucial, Rooke of the Year voters often look at how a rookie impacts winning. This is where Knueppel truly separates himself from Flagg.
Cooper Flagg is putting up historic numbers on a struggling Mavericks team that appears headed for the draft lottery. Knueppel, conversely, is the engine driving a legitimate playoff push in Charlotte. His elite spacing and efficient scoring are the biggest reasons the Hornets boast a winning record of 34-33 and are firmly in the Eastern Conference postseason picture.
Voters notoriously favor rookies whose production translates directly to team success, giving Knueppel a massive advantage down the final stretch of the regular season.
Expanding His Game
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Knueppel’s rookie campaign is that he is proving he is far more than just a stationary shooter.
Opposing teams have adjusted, closing out hard on his three-point attempts, which has forced Knueppel to put the ball on the floor. He has shown surprising playmaking ability, averaging 3.4 assists per game and excelling in the “short roll,” where his quick decision-making consistently creates open looks for his teammates.
Analysts are starting to discuss Knueppel not just as a great rookie, but as one of the best young shooting guards in the entire league, period.
The Final Stretch
With another strong 20-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs yesterday, Knueppel showed no signs of slowing down. He followed up a dynamic 24-point outing against the Kings earlier in the week, reinforcing his consistency as the Hornets enter their most critical stretch of the season.
The 2025-26 Rookie of the Year race started as the Cooper Flagg show, but right now, it belongs entirely to Kon Knueppel. If he continues this historic shooting pace and leads Charlotte into the playoffs, the discussion won’t be about whether he should win the award, but by how large a margin.
