Kon Knueppel’s long wait to get back on the floor appears to be nearing its end.
The Hornets wing, sidelined since suffering a left hamstring strain during an offseason workout, has missed training camp, the preseason and will sit out his eighth straight game Monday against Detroit. But there was a notable sign of progress before tipoff: Knueppel went through his usual pregame routine, according to Rod Boone.
Head coach Charles Lee didn’t put a firm date on the rookie’s return, but he made it clear the comeback is close. Lee said Knueppel’s return is “right around the corner,” according to Steve Reed of The Associated Press.
Boone speculated that Wednesday in Brooklyn could be the spot, and if not, Friday’s home game against Boston might be the target.
Knueppel, 21, was outstanding last season. He played in 81 games, averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 31.5 minutes per game, and shot .475/.425/.863. The fourth overall pick in last year’s draft also became the first rookie in NBA history to lead the league in made three-pointers.
Reed reported that Knueppel has recently been doing 5-on-5 work and has taken contact as part of his ramp-up.
Charlotte has opened the 2026/27 season at 3-4 while dealing with injuries to Knueppel, Coby White and Grant Williams. White is set to make his season debut Monday and will be on a minutes restriction for the next few games, Lee told reporters, including Reed.
The Hornets also made a pair of roster decisions on Sunday, exercising their 2027/28 option on Knueppel, which locks in his $11MM salary for next season, and picking up Liam McNeeley’s third-year option, worth about $3MM.
In Other News...
Hornets Offense Desperately Needs Kon Knueppel Back This Week
Charlottes offense has spent the opening stretch of the season searching for a spark, and the Hornets are still waiting for Kon Knueppel to provide the one they were counting on. After a rookie year that saw him set multiple NBA records, including the most 3-pointers made in a season and a string of 20-point games on efficient shooting, Knueppel looked like the kind of perimeter threat who could change the shape of this lineup almost immediately.
Instead, the Hornets have had to play without him while dealing with the leagues worst offense, a glaring problem that has only sharpened the anticipation around his return. The good news for Charlotte is that the wait may not be much longer, and with a pair of games on deck, the team is hoping Knueppel can give a sputtering attack the shot-making and spacing it has been missing. [Read more 🡒]
Coby White Is Back But Charlottes Offense Still Looks Like The Real Story
Coby White is back in the Charlotte Hornets starting lineup after working his way back from a left calf strain, and his return gives the team a better chance to see what its projected first unit can actually look like. He logged 15 minutes against the Detroit Pistons as Charlotte eased him back in, a sensible approach for a player coming off an injury while the Hornets try to settle into something closer to their intended rotation.
Dennis Schrder shifted to a reserve role with White back, which is another sign the Hornets are inching toward a more complete look. Even so, the bigger question remains whether the offense can clean itself up enough to take advantage of that stability, because the teams issues with scoring and turnovers have been hard to ignore while the roster has been in flux. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets May Finally Get The Rotation Help They Desperately Need
Charlottes rotation could get a needed boost Wednesday night in Brooklyn, with Kon Knueppel and Coby White both listed as probable. Knueppel has yet to appear this season after missing the first eight games with a left hamstring strain, while White is back in the mix after recently working his way through a left calf strain.
Grant Williams, meanwhile, remains sidelined with a right hamstring injury and still has not played this season after getting hurt during offseason workouts. For a Hornets group trying to steady its depth and find more reliable minutes on the wing and in the backcourt, the potential return of Knueppel and White comes at an important time, even if the full picture is still not quite complete. [Read more 🡒]