Earth Still Spins, Water Still Wet, Maine’s Cooper Flagg Wins Another NBA Award

Could you imagine going back 10 years and telling your past self that in 2026 the best rookie in the NBA would be a 19-year-old kid from Newport, Maine? Your past self would clearly think you were drunk.

Yet this is the reality, folks, and it’s one of the greatest sports stories in recent memory. Cooper Flagg continues to improve and impress during his rookie season in the NBA, further justifying everything he has been, and will likely become, as a basketball player.

Cooper Flagg is the NBA's Western Conference Rookie of the Month for January

The Maine native keeps breaking records and winning awards in his first season. Coming off becoming the first teenager ever to score 30+ points in consecutive games, Flagg has been named Western Conference Rookie of the Month—his third consecutive award in that category (October and November were combined due to a limited number of games in October).

Flagg had a massive January, averaging 20.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while serving as the unquestioned leader. He often played multiple positions, including point guard, due to continued injuries on the roster. That’s a lot to ask of any young player, but asking it of a 19-year-old with only a few months of pro experience speaks volumes. Clearly, this team trusts Flagg, and for good reason.

Currently, Flagg leads the team in scoring (20.1 points per game), ranks third in rebounding (6.7), second in assists (4.2), and first in steals (1.2). Those numbers have steadily improved throughout the season, which is evident when looking at his performance over the past month.

Will Cooper Flagg Win the NBA Rookie of the Year?

Flagg, along with former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel, appears to be a runaway favorite to claim one of the top two spots in the Rookie of the Year race, at least for now. Of course, there’s still plenty of basketball left to be played.

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Best of luck to Flagg as he gears up for a strong run the rest of the way.