India, April 29 -- Dallas' Cooper Flagg and Charlotte's Kon Knueppel were Duke teammates last season. For the NBA's Rookie of the Year award, they're basically rivals.

The former Blue Devils were expected to finish first and second - in some order - for the NBA's rookie award, which will be announced shortly past 7 pm EDT on Monday. Flagg and Knueppel were first and second in rookie scoring this season, the first former college teammates to do that since UConn stars Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon did in 2004-05.

Philadelphia's VJ Edgecombe is also a finalist for the rookie honor. "NBA ROTY announced tonight, still hoping for a tie," read a post on Duke basketball's X account on Monday. Such a finish isn't unheard of.

There have been three...