NBA Rookie of the Year Odds: Kon Knuepel Clears Cooper Flagg After Setting Rookie 3-Point Record
Kon Knueppel has been sensational for the Charlotte Hornets this year, and easily the best 3-point shooter in the entire NBA. Can he hold off former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg as the two joust for NBA rookie of the year honors? Peter Alexis breaks down the latest NBA ROY odds as of Sunday, March 8th.
Peter Alexis - March 8, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT
4 Minute ReadNBA Rookie of the Year Odds: Can Kon Knueppel Hold Off Former Duke Teammate Cooper Flagg After Recently Surpassing in NBA ROY Race?
The NBA Rookie of the Year race has shifted dramatically over the past few weeks, and it now appears to be a two-player battle between former Duke teammates. Charlotte Hornets sharpshooter Kon Knueppel has surged past preseason favorite Cooper Flagg, moving to -150 odds and becoming the clear betting favorite after an incredible run from beyond the arc.
Knueppel’s rise has been fueled by one of the greatest shooting seasons ever by an NBA rookie. The Hornets forward recently broke the NBA rookie single-season record for three-pointers, surpassing Keegan Murray’s mark with more than a month still left in the regular season. With 222 made threes and counting, Knueppel has turned the Rookie of the Year race into a showcase of elite perimeter scoring.
Meanwhile, Flagg continues to put together an impressive all-around campaign of his own, but the gap in long-range production and Knueppel’s historic milestones have shifted the betting markets decisively. With roughly six weeks remaining in the season, the award appears to be coming down to which former Duke star finishes stronger down the stretch.
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NBA Rookie of the Year Odds
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NBA 3-Point Contest Odds Breakdown
Kon Knueppel (-150) Check out these best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Knueppel’s rookie campaign has turned into a record-breaking season that few saw coming when he was selected fifth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Charlotte forward is averaging 19.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, while shooting an elite 44% from three-point range and over 62% effective field goal percentage.
The headline achievement has been his shooting from deep. Knueppel already owns the NBA rookie record for three-pointers in a season and now sits at 222 made threes, leading the entire league. Earlier in the season he became the fastest player ever to reach 100 and 200 career three-pointers, highlighting just how unprecedented his shooting pace has been.
Beyond the shooting numbers, Knueppel has delivered remarkable efficiency. He is one of only a handful of players this season averaging 15+ points and 5+ rebounds while shooting over 40% from three, placing him in statistical company with stars like Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic. Charlotte’s strong run of form, including 13 wins in their last 16 games, has only strengthened his candidacy as voters increasingly gravitate toward historic rookie seasons.
Cooper Flagg (+140) Check out these best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
While Knueppel has taken over the betting market, Cooper Flagg remains firmly in the race and continues to deliver a strong rookie season after being selected first overall in the draft.
Flagg is averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, showing the versatile two-way skill set that made him the consensus top prospect entering the league. His defensive impact also stands out, with 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks per game, and his ability to contribute across the stat sheet has kept him in contention despite Knueppel’s scoring explosions.
The biggest statistical difference between the two rookies has been perimeter shooting volume. Flagg has made 53 three-pointers this season, a solid number for a versatile forward, but far behind Knueppel’s record-breaking pace. Still, Flagg’s scoring consistency, playmaking, and defensive contributions mean the race is far from over if he can finish the season with a strong stretch run.
VJ Edgecombe (+15000) Check out these best odds at Caesars Sportsbook
Further down the odds board sits VJ Edgecombe, the Philadelphia 76ers rookie who briefly held early-season Rookie of the Year buzz before the Duke duo pulled away from the field.
The Baylor product showed flashes early in the season and even led some betting markets in the opening months, but his production has not kept pace with the historic scoring output from Knueppel or the all-around numbers posted by Flagg. While Edgecombe remains an exciting young player, his +15000 odds reflect just how far the race has shifted toward the two former Blue Devils.
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