Kon Knueppel has arguably been the best rookie this season. But a few of his draft classmates could catch up soon, especially if his scoring efficiency continues to take a dip. The Charlotte Hornets rookie's shooting struggles aren't exactly his fault, though, because the team has to do better in getting him clean looks at the basket.
So far in the 2025-26 campaign, Knueppel has shot 45.9 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from three. However, in his previous seven games, he has sunk just 37.9 percent of his attempts, including 31.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Interestingly, when Knueppel registered a field-goal percentage lower than 40 percent during that stretch, the Hornets went 1-4. On the other hand, they won both contests in which he hit at least 50 percent of his shots.
Defenses have focused on Kon Knueppel
The problem with the first-year standout securing pole position in the Rookie of the Year race early is that other teams have become wise to his act. Fortunately, he has proven to have a deep offensive bag, showing that he is more than just a sharpshooter. He can attack the basket and is a menacing off-ball threat.
On the other hand, injuries to his teammates and the lack of reliable offensive facilitators have sometimes been a bane for Knueppel. He has often seen double coverage, particularly recently. And while his basketball IQ has allowed him to outsmart such schemes, his lack of experience sometimes becomes apparent.
Charlotte may have to address its dearth of true point guards beyond LaMelo Ball to ensure that Knueppel can thrive on the offensive end. Perhaps he can also play the one during some possessions, but assigning him that role on a full-time basis might be counterproductive, as it would likely be out of his comfort zone. The Hornets should learn from the Dallas Mavericks' failed attempt to utilize Kon’s biggest competitor for the top rookie plum and former Duke University buddy, Cooper Flagg, as their floor general.
The best Buzz City can do is to look for a solution to its playmaking woes either through free agency or the trade market. As the first quarter of the regular season has demonstrated, trusting Collin Sexton, Tre Mann, or KJ Simpson to man the backup point guard position has not exactly yielded consistently positive results.
The front office's failure to address the issue could impact Knueppel's production, as well as his chances of clinching the Rookie of the Year award. And considering that the Hornets could already be in danger of one day frustrating their future star, they should resolve their Knueppel dilemma sooner rather than later.