The Charlotte Hornets have had an uneven 2025-26 campaign. However, Kon Knueppel has given the team plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future. After rolling his ankle against the Orlando Magic, though, the worst thing that could happen has become possible.
Knueppel has not just been the Hornets' best player this season, but he has also looked like a solid foundational player and culture-setter. Sadly, he had to leave their Friday battle against the Magic after stepping on Desmond Bane's foot as he landed after contesting the Magic swingman's shot inside the paint.
Charlotte has yet to provide a more detailed update on Knueppel. The only report that emerged was that he sustained an ankle injury and would not return.
Prayers up for the rookie
It was an unfortunate turn of events for the Rookie of the Year candidate, who torched Orlando with 16 points on 5-6 shooting (4-4 from long distance) in the first quarter. He was key in helping the Hornets seal the opening frame with a 38-28 lead.
His teammates stepped up in his absence, as Charlotte enlarged the margin in the third period to complete the upset victory. If Knueppel were watching from the locker room, he would have surely been proud of his squad.
But beyond the win, it's probably more important for the franchise that the 20-year-old rookie is able to avoid a major injury. Considering how ankle issues have hounded some of its key players, we can't blame some fans for feeling pessimistic about his outlook.
Losing Knueppel for an extended period would be a waste. He is on track to be the Hornets' first Rookie of the Year awardee since LaMelo Ball. His fellow Duke University product Cooper Flagg has closed the gap in the race, and missing time would certainly work against his case to secure the coveted trophy.
Looking at the bigger picture, an extended Knueppel absence could have a significant impact on the Hornets' goal of becoming a contender soon. He has already started establishing rapport with the rest of the club, particularly Ball and Brandon Miller. Any missed opportunity for them to play together could be costly in their attempt to build chemistry, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
The best thing the organization and its fans can do for now is hope that Knueppel's ankle injury isn't that serious and won't have to put him on the shelf for that long, if at all.