The Charlotte Hornets finally have some encouraging news on the injury front, and it starts with Kon Knueppel.
After opening the season 3-2 without Knueppel, Coby White or Grant Williams, Charlotte is getting closer to having at least one of those missing pieces back. The Hornets had previously been offering little beyond vague updates, but that changed Thursday when Knueppel was assigned to the Greensboro Swarm for practice.
That move matters because it means he’s back to doing actual on-court work. Charlotte didn’t hold a practice session, so the organization sent him to Greensboro to get reps in.
These assignments usually don’t linger long, either, which points to Knueppel returning to the NBA roster soon and being available to play. The team still has not given a formal timeline.
There is still likely a cautious ramp-up ahead. The Hornets were careful with injuries last season, and Knueppel could be brought along with a minutes restriction at first rather than thrown straight into a full workload.
What Charlotte did not provide was any update on White or Williams. Williams strained his hamstring the same day Knueppel went down, so a return there would not be a surprise, but for now both players remain out indefinitely.
In the meantime, the Hornets have leaned on Dennis Schröder and Sion James in the starting lineup. James is likely to slide back to a reserve role once Knueppel is activated. Grayson Allen’s minutes could dip as well, though he’s played well enough to stay in a regular role even when the roster gets healthier.
Knueppel’s return should also give Brandon Miller some much-needed help. Miller’s efficiency has already come under scrutiny early in the season, and getting Knueppel back would ease some of that pressure. The two are being treated as the faces of the franchise, but they still have not played together in 2026-27.
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