Sports
Why Kon Knueppel Is Now the Favorite Over Cooper Flagg for NBA Rookie of the Year
When the 2025-26 NBA season began, Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg was the overwhelming favorite to win the league’s Rookie of the Year Award.
Flagg, who spent one year at Duke before he was taken with the first overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, was listed as a -170 favorite on DraftKings. Every other rookie was at least 10-1.
That’s why they call it gambling.
Fast forward to today and there are at least two things that could prevent Flagg from winning the award: 1) a sprained foot that forced him to miss eight games before he returned to action Thursday night against Orlando; and 2) Charlotte guard/forward Kon Knueppel.
If you follow such things, you know that Knueppel, Flagg’s teammate and roommate at Duke, has surged past Flagg and is now the betting favorite to be selected as the Rookie of the Year. At DraftKings, Knueppel is-180, Flagg is +145 and Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe is +12000. Knueppel, the fourth pick in last year’s draft, began the season at +1400.
Flagg has better individual statistics. Entering Friday’s matchup with Boston, he’s averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per contest, and shooting 47.8% from the field. Still, some voters will undoubtedly take issue with the fact that he’s missed 12 of his team’s 62 games.
“Obviously the hardest part is not playing,” Flagg said following Thursday’s game. “I love to compete. I love to play basketball so having that taken away from me was tough, but it’s a good opportunity for me to learn and get perspective.”
Knueppel has played in 62 of Charlotte’s 63 games, and is averaging 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per contest. He’s made 216 3-point field goals – the most in the NBA – and is shooting 43.6% from beyond the arc. His 216 3-pointers are also an NBA rookie record.
The thing that might get Knueppel to the finish line first is Charlotte’s surprising success this season. Despite a 4-14 start, the Hornets had a 32-31 record and were looking to extend a six-game winning streak when they played a home game against Miami on Friday. Charlotte won 19 games last season and is seeking its first playoff appearance since 2015-16.
Dallas was 21-41 entering Friday’s game at Boston, and it appears unlikely that the Mavericks will come close to reaching the 39 wins they earned last season. His bias notwithstanding, Charlotte coach Charles Lee argued that Kneuppel is more deserving of the award than Flagg, and said Kneuppel has done a good job handling the competition with one of his close friends:
“I think he’s done great. I don’t even think it’s close. I think Kon’s done a really good job continuing to separate himself and impact winning and have consistency to him on both ends of the floor. I do think their friendly competition and the fact they come from the same basketball program adds to it, but for the most part Kon is a humble competitor who I don’t even think gets caught up in it. He’s probably gonna be mad at me for even saying something like that because he just wants to focus on our team and win games and impact it in any way he possibly can.”
Twenty-two of the last 25 players who won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award played for teams that won more games during their rookie season than in the previous year.
Flagg still has time to overtake Kneupel and win the award, but winning matters. Charlotte’s improved won/loss record will likely be the difference and make Kneuppel the safer bet to be selected as the Rookie of the Year.
Sports
Stanford star G Ebuka Okorie enters NBA draft
Mar 10, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Stanford Cardinal guard Ebuka Okorie (1) on the court in the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Stanford star guard Ebuka Okorie said Thursday that he is declaring for the NBA draft after leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring as a freshman.
Okorie was overlooked by top-flight programs during the recruiting process but was a big hit with the Cardinal. He ranked eighth nationally with a 23.2 scoring average to go with 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals and was earned honorable mention All-America status.
“A year ago you guys took a chance on a kid from New Hampshire with zero high major offers, welcoming me with open arms and allowing me to be the best version of myself on and off the court,” Okorie said on Instagram. “… I’m truly blessed and humbled with this opportunity, and I’m thankful to Stanford for helping me chase my dreams.”
Okorie scored 719 points this season, third most in Stanford history. He finished behind Chasson Randle (724 in 2014-15) and leader Adam Keefe (734 in 1991-92).
Okorie recorded eight 30-point outings, surpassing the mark of Duke’s Marvin Bagley III (seven in 2017-18) for ACC freshmen.
Okorie, who shot 46.5% from the field, is rated as a first-round pick with a possibility of moving into the lottery.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Bucs adding CBs Chase Lucas, Kemon Hall
Sep 28, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chase Lucas (26) after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are adding to their depth at cornerback with one-year contracts for free agents Chase Lucas and Kemon Hall, according to reports on Thursday.
Lucas, 29, has agreed to join the Bucs, per NFL Network, after recording nine tackles in 15 games last season for San Francisco. He played on 53% of the 49ers’ special teams snaps (204) and 10% of the defensive snaps (98).
He has played in 33 regular-season games for the Detroit Lions (2022-23) and 49ers (2025) as well as a total of four playoff games and has 15 career tackles.
Detroit selected Lucas in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Arizona State.
Hall, 28, is signing with Tampa Bay, per an ESPN report, after playing in four games last season for the Tennessee Titans and making nine tackles. He was in on 64% of the special teams snaps (70) and 30% of the defensive snaps (66).
He has played in 28 career games for the Los Angeles Chargers (2021-22), Dallas Cowboys (2024) and Titans (2025) and has 24 career tackles and one forced fumble.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tigers CF Parker Meadows hospitalized after collision
Apr 9, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows (22) collides with left fielder Riley Greene (31) on a fly ball hit by Minnesota Twins designated hitter Josh Bell (not pictured) in the eighth inning at Target Field. Meadows left the game. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows will be hospitalized overnight in Minneapolis after being carted off the field due to a scary collision in the bottom of the eighth inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday afternoon.
Meadows was playing center field and Riley Greene was playing left field when Twins hitter Josh Bell hit a slicing fly ball toward the left-center field gap. Both outfielders converged on the ball, and Greene made the catch but his head clipped the side of Meadows’ face as the players collided.
Meadows fell to the outfield grass and remained still for a few moments as teammates and trainers came to check on him. He rolled onto his back as trainers attended to him.
“That was an ugly, scary one, and there’s a lot of concern for him,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said after Detroit’s 3-1 loss. “When we got out there, it looked like he had bit his lip or inside his mouth, so there was some blood, and he was pretty out of it. …
“Those are scary collisions. You don’t know what you’re going to get when you get there. Obviously we’re going to get him checked out for everything, but this one worries me.”
Eventually, Meadows was able to sit up and gingerly get to his feet. He walked slowly a few steps to a cart that trainers had requested to take him off the field.
Greene was deeply concerned after the contest.
“It was a terrible feeling,” Greene said. “I still feel terrible.”
Javier Baez moved from shortstop to center field to replace Meadows. Kevin McGonigle entered the game to play shortstop.
Meadows went 0-for-3 and is hitting .250 with two RBIs and three stolen bases in 12 games. The 26-year-old is in his fourth season with the Tigers.
The Tigers open a three-game series against the visiting Miami Marlins on Friday and it’s still to be determined if Meadows will be able to play during the series.
But Detroit right-hander Jack Flaherty knows it’s not too soon for everyone to pull for Meadows.
“You just hope everybody has thoughts and prayers with him, and he’s going to be all right,” Flaherty said. “He’s a tough guy. We continue to pray over him. Tough way to end the series. Just pray to God for Parker. He’s as good of a guy as they come. Scary situation.”
–Field Level Media
Stanford star G Ebuka Okorie enters NBA draft
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