Flagg and Knueppel headline NBA's All-Rookie First Team
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick, and Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, the No. 4 pick, were the two leading vote-getters on the NBA's All-Rookie First Team for the 2025-26 season, the league announced on Saturday. The selections reflect the year-end ballot of the league's media panel.
Flagg established himself as one of the Mavericks' most consistent contributors. The 19-year-old forward averaged 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists across 79 games, finishing among the league's top ten in total blocks. He proved central to Dallas's post-lottery rebuild and emerged as the key figure on their path back to the playoff conversation.
Knueppel grew into a larger role than expected when Brandon Miller went down with an injury. The Duke product averaged 22.7 points per game, the highest among all rookies, while shooting 42.5 percent from three. His ability to keep Charlotte's offense functional was a foundational story of the Hornets' year.
The other three on the first team illustrate different paths to the league. Portland Trail Blazers center Yang Hansen — the first Chinese center to be drafted into the NBA in a generation — averaged 14.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, building a defensive anchor over his rookie year. Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe, brought in last summer from the Bahamas, finished at 16.5 points and 5.3 assists, showing how quickly he adapted.
The inclusion of Bryce James perhaps carries the most emotional weight. The Los Angeles Lakers' guard, son of LeBron James, contributed to a milestone — Bryce and LeBron joined a small list of father-son pairs active in the NBA simultaneously. Bryce averaged 9.8 points and 4.1 assists, securing a regular rotation place during the Lakers' late-season playoff push.
The All-Rookie selection process retained its longstanding ballot system. Each member of the media panel ranked players for first and second teams, with first-team votes worth two points and second-team votes worth one. Flagg and Knueppel received unanimous first-team votes.
The second team featured Asa Newell (Atlanta Hawks), Yves Missi (Brooklyn Nets), Ja'Kobe Walter (Toronto Raptors), Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets) and Ronald Holland (Detroit Pistons). Sheppard's relegation to the second team was surprising given the pre-season expectations placed on the Kentucky product, but reflected the difficulty of carving out minutes in Houston's deep roster.
All-Rookie history tends to read like draft history, and the 2024 draft class has been called one of the strongest in years — the results bear that out. Flagg is also the heavy favourite for the league's Rookie of the Year award, which is expected to be announced in the coming days.
Dallas Mavericks president Masai Ujiri said: 'The maturity Cooper showed in his first year, the responsibility he took on for the team and the respect he showed his teammates exceeded our expectations. As we rebuild this organisation, having a player like him as a foundational piece is a privilege.'
The Charlotte Hornets president praised Knueppel's resilience: 'He was prepared for a smaller role at the start of the season, but he carried that responsibility with real maturity after Brandon's injury. His three-point percentage positions him as a player who will be in this league for a long time.' Heading into the Las Vegas Summer League window, both clubs are framing their plans around their rookie standouts.