Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Scores 21 in SL championship
Rotowire
Knueppel recorded 21 points (8-21 FG, 4-11 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds and two assists during Sunday's 83-78 Summer League championship win over the Kings.
Knueppel put together an impressive performance to close out Summer League, posting a team-high 21 points. He connected on a game-high four three-pointers, including a clutch three-pointer to put Charlotte up four with 32 seconds remaining. Knueppel's performance earned him the Summer League title game MVP award.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Scores 17 points in SL win
Rotowire
Knueppel recorded 17 points (5-12 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 5-5 FT), three rebounds, three assists and two steals across 21 minutes in Saturday's 109-80 Summer League win over the Thunder.
Knueppel finished as Charlotte's second-leading scorer in the win. He has now posted at least 16 points in three consecutive Summer League outings. Following Saturday's dominant victory, the Hornets will face the Kings in Sunday's championship game.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Another big night in Summer League
Rotowire
Knueppel posted 19 points (7-13 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, six assists and two steals over 29 minutes during Thursday's 106-81 Summer League win over the Spurs.
Knueppel tied for the team lead in points and assists on the way to yet another impressive showing. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Knueppel has shown in back-to-back Summer League appearances that he's ready for the next level. He should get another chance over the weekend to continue building his case for a rotation spot.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Notches double-double
Rotowire
Knueppel finished with 16 points (5-10 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block over 26 minutes in Monday's 87-69 Summer League win over the Mavericks.
Knueppel returned to action Monday after missing Saturday's game with a lingering ankle injury, knocking down three three-pointers and posting a double-double. He impressed as a freshman at Duke last season, averaging 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from beyond the arc over 39 total games. The rookie projects as a plug-and-play contributor for the Hornets this season.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Cleared to play Monday
Rotowire
Knueppel (ankle) is available for Monday's Summer League game against the Mavericks.
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 Draft, Knueppel sat out Saturday's win over Philadelphia as part of a buildup following a pre-draft ankle injury, but he'll return to game action Monday. The 19-year-old posted five points (1-8 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 3-6 FT), four assists, one rebound and one steal across 30 minutes in Friday's win over the Spurs.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Ruled out Saturday
Rotowire
Knueppel (ankle) won't play in Saturday's Summer League matchup against the 76ers, Nick Carboni of WCNC Charlotte reports.
Knueppel will miss the second night of the club's back-to-back set as part of a buildup following a pre-draft ankle injury. However, he's expected to suit up in Monday's game against the Mavericks. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft struggled in Friday's win over the Spurs, posting five points (1-8 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 3-6 FT), four assists, one rebound and one steal across 30 minutes.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Selected by Hornets at No. 4
Rotowire
Knueppel was selected by the Hornets with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Knueppel is one of the best shooters in the draft and was lauded for his feel of the game. The 6-foot-7 Duke product impressed off the dribble, using his strong frame to displace defenders and high processing speed to make timely passes. He figures to be an excellent connector piece from Day 1, filling in at the small forward slot between Brandon Miller (wrist) and Miles Bridges (hip). While Knueppel won't have the ball in his hand much -- Miller and LaMelo Ball (ankle) should eat up usage -- he excels at contributing off the ball through cutting and running around off-ball screens as a shooting threat. There are some question marks about how Knueppel will hold up on the defensive end, but his length and high IQ could make up for what he may lack athletically.
