Clear Rookie of the Year Favorite Named Ahead of NBA Playoffs
The 2025–26 NBA rookie class came in with serious hype, and most of it centered around one name: Cooper Flagg. The No. 1 overall pick was widely viewed as a franchise-altering talent, a do-it-all forward expected to dominate from Day 1. Early betting markets and preseason projections had him as a near lock for Rookie of the Year. But as the regular season winds down and the playoff picture sharpens, the narrative took a sharp, unexpected turn. According to ESPN analyst Zach Kram’s latest...