Did we just get an all-time rookie vs rookie matchup with Cooper Flagg vs Kon Knueppel?
Cooper Flagg vs Kon Knueppel last night felt like an instant classic and it’s wild that this was two NBA rookies going at each other like that.
Flagg went for 49 and 10, Knueppel answered with 34 on lights-out shooting (both historic rookie performances),and neither hesitated. Every run got met with a response. It never felt like one guy catching fire while the other faded, it felt like a duel.
What stood out was how natural it looked. Flagg imposing himself whenever he wanted, Knueppel calmly punishing space and keeping pace possession after possession. No overthinking, no easing in.
If this is a preview of what these two are going to be, the league just got a lot more interesting.