-
Tim McMahon
multiple authors
DALLAS — The NBA Rookie of the Year odds have changed. cooper flagA favor after a historically great weekend. dallas mavericks‘Teenage incident.
After scoring 96 points in a span of two games, the flag went ahead charlotte hornets sniper Con Knuppel As the favorite for the award, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Flagg has -250 odds ahead of Knueppel at +180.
Flagg continued his teen-record 51-point performance in Friday’s loss orlando magic Nearly had a triple-double on Sunday with 45 points. 134-128 overcome Los Angeles Lakers.
“I think it’s definitely some kind of statement,” said Flagg, who also had nine assists, eight rebounds, two steals and a block in the win. “But it’s what I said: I’m confident in myself, and I know what I’m capable of. I’ll figure out the rest on my own.”
Knueppel entered the weekend as a -300 favorite to win Rookie of the Year over his Duke roommate Flagg, who had +225 odds. Then, Flagg became the first rookie since Allen Iverson – and so far the only teenager – to average at least 45 points, five rebounds and five assists in a two-game span.
According to ESPN Research, Flagg is the first rookie to score at least 45 points in consecutive games since Hall of Famer Walt Bellamy in 1962. Wilt Chamberlain, who accomplished the feat on three occasions, is the only other rookie to achieve such a streak.
Flagg has three of the four 45-point performances by a teenager in NBA history, including these past two games. He is one of only six players to score at least 45 points three times as a rookie. The other five–Bellamy, Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Earl Monroe and Lew Alcindor–all won Rookie of the Year en route to becoming Hall of Famers.
“I don’t know if he’s making a closing statement or not,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd, who has worn a T-shirt with the “No Pressure” slogan from the Mavs’ marketing campaign for the flag in his last two postgame media appearances. “I think he’s doing what he’s been doing all season. Being able to play different positions. Being able to be uncomfortable. He’s never complained and has worked for us.
“To be able to do that tonight, on national television, it’s not easy. Especially in 50 balls. He wants to win, and he helped the team win tonight.”
Flagg leads all rookies in scoring with 20.8 points per game, is third among qualifiers in rebounding (6.6) and is second only to teammates in rebounding (6.6). Ryan Nembhard In assistance (4.5). The only newcomer to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists per game since the ABA-NBA merger is Larry Bird, Jordan. luka doncic And flag.
Knueppel is averaging 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists and has broken the rookie record with a league-leading 265 3-pointers for the Hornets, who are 43-36.
Flagg has endured the disappointment of consecutive losing seasons with the Mavs (25-53) while taking on the opponent’s top defender in every game.
Mavs added, “He gets a lot of attention, but it’s nothing to him.” pj washington Said. “He makes shots at all three levels. He can facilitate the ball, rebound, play defense. He’s a jack of all trades and obviously, what he’s doing is for a 19-year-old. It’s unheard of.”
Flagg’s production compares statistically to only two previous rookie rookies, both of whom are current Lakers. Doncic averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists while winning the 2018–19 Rookie of the Year for the Mavericks. Lebron James Averaged 20.9 points, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds during his 2003–04 Rookie of the Year campaign. Cavaliers.
“I mean, he’s obviously special,” James said. “I’ve seen it like in the AAU days, when he was coming up the ranks and playing with his team out of Maine, and he was doing the work he was doing on the circuit. So, I knew he was special from then on, and he’s taken everything he did from the AAU circuit back home to Duke to where he is now, and he’s getting better and better and better. It seems like he loves the game. He’s been working, and he’s got to It’s gotten better.
“But this is a great beginner class. You see VJ [Edgecombe] In Philly. Who’s in Charlotte, you see dylan [Harper] In San Antonio. This is a great rookie class, and all of those guys are making impacts on their respective teams. So, the league is in good hands with those rookies.”
James, who is 41 and in his record-setting 23rd NBA season, had 30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds as the Lakers lost their first game without injured star Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reeves (Slant). Flagg considered it an honor to engage in a duel with one of his childhood idols.
“I think it was great,” Flagg said. “Obviously, he’s a guy that I’ve been watching throughout his career since I was a little kid. So, it’s really impressive, first of all, just watching him and seeing him be able to do the things that he’s still able to do. But to play a match against someone like that is a dream come true.”
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.
