Cooper Flagg ROTY Card Breaks NBA Topps NOW Print Run Record

Looking Back at a Historic Rookie Season in The Hobby

Date: May 1, 2026
Topics: Basketball, Cooper Flagg, NBA, NBA Topps NOW, TOPPS NOW
Length: 906 Words
Reading Time: ~5 Minutes

Cooper Flagg entered the NBA with incredibly high expectations. The top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg more than delivered in his rookie campaign, which ended with the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. NBA Topps NOW® captured the moment with a ROTY card that’s become the set’s most popular card ever.

A staggering print run of 208,735 set the record. It’s a testament to Flagg’s remarkable rise in the league and in The Hobby. Fellow rookie and former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel went toe-to-toe with Flagg all year, resulting in the closest Rookie of the Year vote in over two decades. Both players have become huge Hobby stars. They also joined forces on one of the most significant NBA Topps NOW® cards of the year.

Cooper Flagg has made Hobby history with a record-breaking run on NBA Topps NOW®, including a Rookie of the Year release with a print run of 208,735—the highest ever for the set. His on-court success, popularity, and potential have made him a centerpiece of the modern basketball card market.

While there’s much more to come from Cooper Flagg, it’s important to note just how much impact he’s already had in The Hobby during his award-winning rookie season. Not only is his Rookie of the Year card a record-breaker, but Flagg himself appears on six of the top 10 NBA Topps NOW® cards of the season.

In celebration of Flagg’s well-deserved award and his historic season, let’s look back on his incredible year in NBA Topps NOW®.


The Year of Cooper Flagg


2025-26 NBA Topps NOW® #ROTY Cooper Flagg

Card Info

Print run: 208,735
• card commemorates flagg’s 2026 nba roy award win over kon knueppel in the tightest roy vote in over two decades
• best selling NBA Topps NOW® card of all-time

what they said

• “People want to talk about expectations and things like that, but for me it’s always just been about living up to my own standards.” – Cooper Flagg

2025-26 NBA Topps NOW® #241 Cooper Flagg

card Info

Print run: 99,025
• flagg went off for 51 points in early april against the magic, becoming the youngest player and first teenager to put up a 50-piece

What They Said

• “It just speaks to who i am and the confidence I have in myself…and just the improvement. grinding. getting better all year long.” – Cooper Flagg

2025-26 NBA Topps NOW® #152 Cooper Flagg/Kon Knueppel

card info

• Print run: 67,580
• flagg and knueppel combined for 83 points in early showdown, the most by two rookies in one game since 1971
• flagg put up 49
• game-used sneaker auto relic is one of the cards of the year
• gold foil /50 sold for $2,200 in april 2026

What They Said

• “To have a night like this with him – I know how special he is and how hard he works. Ten-plus years down the road, we’ll both look back on this as a pretty special thing. We’ll both be in this league a long time. That’s my brother for life.” – Cooper Flagg on Kon Knueppel

2025-26 NBA Topps NOW® #6 Cooper Flagg

card Info

Print run: 43,182
• flagg scored 10 points in his first-ever nba game
• 1/1 foilfractor sold for $21,960 in december 2025

what they said

• “I’m excited to keep going. Obviously it hurts, the first loss being like that, but I’m just trying to look forward to the next one, turn the page and get ready.” – Cooper Flagg

2025-26 NBA Topps NOW® #86 Cooper Flagg

card Info

Print run: 42,224
• a major historic moment early in flagg’s career saw him score 42 points on december 15, passing lebron james for the most points scored in a single game by an 18-year-old

what They said

• “Obviously, we didn’t win. So, it’s tough for me to want to be happy or any of that. But obviously, it’s a success.” – Cooper Flagg

  • Why are Cooper Flagg Topps NOW cards so popular?
    • Flagg’s cards are in high demand due to his Rookie of the Year season, record-breaking performances, and strong collector interest in his early career milestones.
  • What is the most popular Cooper Flagg Topps NOW card?
    • The Rookie of the Year card (#ROTY) is the most popular, with a record print run of 208,735, making it the best-selling NBA Topps NOW card ever.
  • What are the key moments captured on Flagg’s cards?
    • Major moments include his NBA debut, record-breaking scoring games, Rookie of the Year win, and historic performances as a teenager.
  • What makes Topps NOW cards unique?
    • Topps NOW cards are released in real time to capture major moments, making them highly collectible snapshots of historic performances.

Key Facts

  • Rookie of the Year: Cooper Flagg won the 2026 award in a historic season
  • Record Print Run: ROTY card reached 208,735, the highest in NBA Topps NOW history
  • Top Sales: 1/1 Foilfractor auto sold for nearly $75,000
  • Historic Performances: Included 42-point and 51-point games early in his career
  • Dual Rookie Impact: Close ROY race with Kon Knueppel boosted collector interest
  • Hobby Dominance: Flagg appears on six of the top 10 NBA Topps NOW cards of the season

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