Did Cooper Flagg Deserve Rookie Of The Year Over Kon Knueppel? + Brendan Sorsby’s NCAA Gambling Case
Reese, Pam and Alex discuss whether Cooper Flagg deserved Rookie of the Year over Kon Knueppel and what the NCAA gambling investigation involving Brendan Sorsby could mean for his future in college football.
Cooper Flagg officially won the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year award in a very tight race, narrowly beating Kon Knueppel by just 26 voting points, with 56 first-place votes to Knueppel’s 44, while VJ Edgecombe finished third. Flagg’s win was driven by his incredible all-around production, as he averaged roughly 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game while impacting every part of the game and often leading his team across multiple statistical categories, making a strong case as the most complete rookie. Knueppel pushed him to the edge thanks to an elite shooting season highlighted by a rookie-record 273 three-pointers, along with efficient scoring and a winning-team narrative that appealed to many voters. Edgecombe, while explosive and exciting with strong scoring ability, ultimately didn’t receive the same level of top-tier vote consideration. In the end, the race reflected the season-long storylines: Flagg’s two-way dominance and versatility gave him the slight edge, Knueppel’s efficiency and team success made it close, and Edgecombe remained a step behind in overall voting impact. Did Cooper Flagg deserve ROTY over Kon Knueppel?
Brendan Sorsby is under NCAA investigation for alleged gambling activity, with reports saying he placed thousands of online bets across multiple sports, including during his time with the Indiana Hoosiers football. He has since taken an indefinite leave from the Texas Tech Red Raiders football program and entered a treatment program for gambling addiction. NCAA rules strictly ban athletes from betting on any college or professional sports and violations can lead to suspension or loss of eligibility even without evidence of game fixing. While there’s no indication he influenced game outcomes, the scale of the alleged activity puts his college football future in serious jeopardy and highlights growing concerns around sports betting in college athletics. What will happen?
