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Cooper Flagg vs VJ Edgecombe: Early battle for ROTY begins; Mavs and 76ers excited
The 2025-26 NBA season is barely a week old, but the Rookie of the Year (ROTY) race has already ignited a heated early rivalry
The 2025-26 NBA season is barely a week old, but the Rookie of the Year (ROTY) race has already ignited a heated early rivalry between Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg and Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe.
Flagg, the No 1 overall pick out of Duke, and Edgecombe, selected third from Baylor, have been linked since their high school days. The latter made an explosive debut vs the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, scoring 34 points in a slim win. He broke LeBron James' 22-year-old record by scoring the most points in the first quarter of their debut NBA game.
Both teams are thrilled by their rookies' promise, but the "rivalry" narrative, fueled by social media hype, has fans debating who will claim the Kia ROTY award.
The drama traces back to a viral high school moment in 2024 when Edgecombe stepped over Flagg after a missed shot during a Montverde Academy vs Long Island Lutheran matchup, a clip that resurfaced after the draft.
Their college clash in the NCAA Tournament saw Baylor fall to Duke, with Edgecombe holding Flagg to 18 points.
Fast-forward to the NBA: Flagg struggled vs the Spurs, but Edgecombe stole the spotlight Wednesday, dropping 14 points in the first quarter against the Celtics.
Flagg, the 6-foot-9 forward with 19.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG at Duke, leads the ROTY odds at -185, per Sportsbook Review, but Edgecombe's +1300 line has shortened after his hot start. Flagg impressed his teammates while averaging 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in four preseason games.
"He's playing phenomenal, both ends," Anthony Davis said. "He's adjusting very well. He asks questions.
"Most rookies hit a rookie wall just because it's a lot, but his rookie season is going to be a lot different than most because even though he has expectations on him, we have a team where we don't have to put that much pressure on him. (He can) be himself. I think he's great. He's been doing everything we've asked and more."
