NBA Rookie of the Year race: Flagg or Knueppel?

The Rookie of the Year race between Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel is nearing a photo finish. Both players have an excellent case to win the award, leaving voters with a difficult decision to make.

The betting odds on theScore Bet have reflected the chaos. Last week, Knueppel was on track to secure the honor as a -300 favorite after the publishing of ESPN's straw poll, which indicated that the majority of voters were leaning toward choosing the Hornets wing.

Then, Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points in a game, finishing with 51 in a loss to the Magic. Two nights later, he recorded a 45-point outing against the Lakers, his fourth 40-point game of the season. The incredible stretch flipped the odds in Flagg's favor, making him a -275 favorite while pushing Knueppel to +190. The former Duke teammates have traded places atop the oddsboard throughout the season.

🏀 Knueppel or Flagg? Bet on Rookie of the Year and other NBA awards with theScore Bet here

In most years, either player would be a unanimous Rookie of the Year selection. Instead, the friends are pitted against each other, and there may not be an outright winner.

Flagg and Knueppel could be honored as co-winners if there's a tie in voting, which has happened four times in NBA history. The most recent example occurred when Elton Brand and Steve Francis each received 50 votes at the conclusion of the 1999-2000 campaign.

Given the historic seasons from this year's contenders, that outcome would be a fitting way to reward both future All-Stars. In that case, bettors of each candidate would earn half of their potential winnings.

Flagg, who's averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, is undoubtedly the better overall player. However, the scoring of his counterpart, who's producing 18.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, is coming with unbelievable efficiency; Knueppel is posting a 63.7% true shooting percentage. In February, he surpassed the rookie record for 3-pointers in a season, and he currently leads the league with 268 made threes while shooting 42.9% from distance, the eighth-best mark among players who have attempted at least 150 3-pointers.

No rookie has ever finished a season as the league leader in triples, but Knueppel is set to become the first. He isn't strictly a catch-and-shoot player either; the 20-year-old consistently drills threes off the dribble and on the move when coming off various actions.

Although Flagg has only made 29% of his threes, he's a prolific scorer in his own right. The Mavericks' budding star has the ability to glide downhill, operate in the mid-range, and forcefully get to his spots, making him nearly unguardable. He's also a more impactful playmaker, rebounder, and defender.

Knueppel supporters will point to his advantage in two other areas: availability and team success. He's played 11 more games than Flagg, but that isn't a significant gap. Knueppel surged ahead in the race when Flagg missed nearly three weeks from mid-February to early March. The former No. 1 pick has largely stayed on the court since returning, despite the Mavericks angling for a better draft position.

Dallas is tied for the sixth-worst record in the league. Meanwhile, Knueppel is a crucial reason why the Hornets own the league's best net rating since Jan. 1. Regardless, team success rarely factors into Rookie of the Year voting. Most winners come from poor teams that don't make the playoffs.

There's no wrong choice between the two candidates. Flagg has showcased a higher ceiling, but Knueppel has put together what's arguably a more impressive season. In the end, a pair of trophies may be handed out.

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