The Charlotte Hornets have seen an immediate return on their investment in Kon Knueppel. Between the preseason and the incredibly early stages of the regular season, Knueppel has provided Charlotte with a degree of structure they simply lacked a season ago.
Knueppel is only a rookie, but he's playing with wisdom beyond his years as he sets a calming tone with his off-ball movement and impressive decision making.
Charlotte began the 2025-26 regular season in exceptional form, setting a franchise record with nine players scoring in double figures. Head coach Charles Lee deserves immeasurable credit for that shift in ideology, as he's seemingly broken through and reached the more isolation-happy players on the roster.
One of the primary reasons the Hornets have succeeded in their efforts to spread the wealth, however, is the manner in which Knueppel has already begun to bridge the proverbial gap.
A season ago, the trio of LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Brandon Miller all averaged at least 17.0 field goal attempts per game. They also combined to average 29.1 three-point field goal attempts per game despite the fact that Miller at 35.5 percent was the only one of the three who shot better than 33.9 percent from distance.
With a shortage of reliable shooters to fill the role of off-ball contributors, the Hornets' primary scorers shouldered the burden—an issue Knueppel has already begun to resolve.
Kon Knueppel is helping Hornets create balance on offense
Knueppel has experienced his share of ups and downs as a shooter between five preseason games and one regular-season outing. He attempted at least four three-point field goals in each of those six appearances, however, and was often turned to for stability when the offense wasn't flowing properly.
Whether or not his jump shot is falling, Knueppel has the skill as a shooter to justify being trusted with a high volume of shots that the focal points shouldn't necessarily be burdened with.
Knueppel shot 1-of-5 or worse from beyond the arc in three of the aforementioned six appearances, but he also caught fire in the other three. He went 4-of-10 from distance during his preseason debut, and 3-of-6 against the Memphis Grizzlies 10 days later.
That all came to a head during the regular season opener, when Knueppel shot 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and scored 11 points in 25 minutes.
One of the primary reasons the Hornets already trust Knueppel to shoot with volume is how he's shown an early ability to make the right decisions. He committed five turnovers in a preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks, but otherwise averaged just 1.0 per contest.
Knueppel commited just two turnovers during his regular season debut, and although he didn't get to flash his playmaking as much as he had in the preseason, he still offered glimpses of hope.
Hornets needed Kon Knueppel's balance of on and off-ball offense
Knueppel has already received a significant number of opportunities to handle the ball. His first bucket was a coast-to-coast contested layup, which set the tone for how Charlotte empowered him to get out in transition as a primary ball handler when the situation called for it.
That inevitably created opportunities for the more ball-dominant players on the roster to generate more efficient offense than they managed to a season ago.
Furthermore, Knueppel isn't just stationing himself in the corner and waiting for a pass to come his way. He's constantly moving without the ball, adjusting his position to create the most ideal passing angles for whoever has it.
The constant motion that he's in keeps the offense flowing all around, as opposing defenses can't simply settle in and anticipate a drive, and playmakers are less inclined to force the issue when there's an easy passing angle at their disposal.
It's not only Knueppel who's changing the way the Hornets are playing, of course, and the primary options on offense deserve praise for early changes to their approach. A player like Knueppel can be transformative, however, and that's exactly what he's thus far appeared to be.
There's a long season ahead of the Hornets, but Knueppel is already filling the role they desperately need him to and making the offense flow with far more precision.