Was Cooper Flagg’s ROTY win more impressive than it looks? Breaking down production vs. team success

Cooper Flagg was officially named the 2025–26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year on Wednesday, May 1, 2026, despite playing for a Dallas Mavericks team that finished 26–56 and 12th in the Western Conference. Flagg was thrust into a leading role after Kyrie Irving tore his ACL in 2025 and Anthony Davis was traded to the Washington Wizards mid-season, leaving the teenager to carry the offense largely alone. His historic individual statistics were cited as evidence that his ROTY win was more impressive than the team's poor record suggests.