Kon Knueppel experienced a relatively sudden rise up draft boards in the final weeks leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft. He was consistently projected as a lottery pick, but he entered top-five discussions late in the game and ultimately went No. 4 overall to the Charlotte Hornets.
It hasn't taken long for Knueppel to not only justify the Hornets' investment, but turn in a season that should ultimately lead to him winning Rookie of the Year.
Knueppel has been both electric and fundamentally invaluable, providing explosive performances while acting as the glue to a talented but previously uncoordinated lineup. The result has been a leap to elite form, with Charlotte ranking No. 2 in the NBA in net rating since Jan. 1.
During that time, Knueppel has ranked second on the Hornets in points and assists per game, and third in rebounds and three-point field goals made per contest.
That alone offers reason to believe that Knueppel should be at the forefront of Rookie of the Year conversations. What puts him over the top, however, is how he's sustained what's shaping up to be the best first-year shooting season in NBA history.
Already a genuinely elite shooter, Knueppel is combining individual production and team success in a way that not even injured former college teammate Cooper Flagg can match.
Kon Knueppel is having the best rookie shooting season in NBA history
Knueppel is currently on pace to become the fourth rookie in NBA history to attempt at least 7.0 three-point field goals per game. Joining him on that list are perennial All-Stars Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, and Donovan Mitchell.
The difference between them, however, is that Mitchell shot 34.0 percent, Edwards checked in at 32.9, Doncic trailed slightly behind at 32.7, and Knueppel is burying an obscene 43.1 percent of his attempts.
Doncic, Edwards, and Mitchell clearly carried a heavier workload on the offensive end of the floor, with each averaging at least 16.5 field goal attempts per game to Knueppel's 13.4. That changes nothing about their respective three-point marksmanship, however, and how unique the Hornets rookie truly is.
Knueppel is not only outpacing those three stars, but is on his way to posting the best three-point field goal percentage of any rookie in NBA history who attempted at least 5.0 threes per game.
Kon Knueppel is shooting and scoring in a way only the stars can rival
One stat can't decide the race, but it's certainly a valuable addition to the conversation that already exists. In addition to operating as the Hornets' second-leading scorer during their resurgence, Knueppel has been excellent throughout the entire season.
The former Duke Blue Devils star is averaging 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.4 three-point field goals made per game on the season, shooting at a clip of .484/.431/.902.
Just 1.6 field goal percentage points off of a 50-40-90 season as a rookie, Knueppel's volume and efficiency are unfathomable. In fact, he's one of five players averaging at least 18.0 points and shooting 40.0 percent from three in 2025-26.
The others: Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, Edwards, and Jamal Murray. All of this and Knueppel's still in his first season. That certainly sounds like the Rookie of the Year.