There are nights when Kon Knueppel doesn't look like a 20-year-old rookie; Friday was one of them. However, his statement after his 33-point, nine-assist outing shows that he is only going to get better. That is certainly good news for the Charlotte Hornets and bad news for the rest of the league.
Asked if he still feels like a rookie, Knueppel affirmed it and added, "I'm still figuring stuff out. I'm still relying on my teammates, especially the off-the-court stuff, trying to figure everything out with my life."
With such a mindset, it wouldn't be surprising to watch Knueppel repeat his Friday performance a lot more times. The Chicago Bulls couldn't contain him, yet they still prevailed over Charlotte. He combined with Miles Bridges for 65 points, 16 assists, and nine 3-pointers.
He had the opportunity to lift his club to the victory, but the foul he drew while hoisting a three with 10 seconds left and the Hornets trailing 127-124 was overturned after a coach's challenge. The Hornets ended up losing 129-126, though Knueppel was a bright spot, as he has typically been for them so far in the 2025-26 campaign.
Through his first 25 appearances, the former Duke University star has played beyond his years, averaging 18.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per contest. Perhaps one of the most surprising facets of his game has been his efficiency. Despite recent setbacks and increased attention from defenses, he is shooting 46.6 percent from the field.
While Knueppel has flaunted a wide arsenal of ways to get buckets, the 3-point shot remains one of his biggest weapons. He ranks eighth in the league in 3-point conversions with 3.4 makes per game. Interestingly, he is a more efficient long-distance marksman (40.3 percent) than all but one of the players who are ahead of him on the list.
A brighter future than expected
Before the regular season started, not many probably expected that Knueppel would display the potential to be a star. However, over a quarter of a season in, it looks like the sky is the limit for the Hornets cornerstone.
Some people have brought up Klay Thompson as a comparison for the rookie, but that might not be accurate anymore. Sure, both of them are elite sharpshooters, but a prime Thompson is a more menacing defender, while Knueppel has a deeper offensive bag.
Devin Booker's name has also come up in discussions of Kon's ceiling. But the Phoenix Suns superstar's outside shooting does not hold a candle to Knueppel's.
Maybe Knueppel can be a mix of both Thompson and Booker, and to be honest, that would sound terrific for Charlotte. With the way things are going now, the franchise might have to start thinking about building the roster around its No. 4 draft pick this summer. And if he can be as big an offensive threat as some of the NBA's best wing players, the Hornets will be in good hands.