Kon Knueppel is officially on the NBA radar - and not just as a promising rookie, but as a legitimate difference-maker for the Charlotte Hornets.
Monday night was a statement on multiple fronts. The Hornets didn’t just beat the Philadelphia 76ers - they ran them off the floor. And right in the middle of it all was Knueppel, continuing a breakout rookie campaign that has him not only turning heads, but rewriting the record books along the way.
Let’s start with the accolades: Knueppel has been selected for the NBA Rising Stars Game, a nod to his fast start and growing reputation around the league. And he’s earned it.
Through 47 games, the 6-foot-6 sharpshooter is averaging 18.7 points per game - second among all rookies - and ranks third in the entire NBA in three-pointers made with 151. That’s not just impressive for a rookie; that’s elite, period.
Knueppel’s shooting stroke has been nothing short of electric. In December, he became the fastest player in league history to hit 100 career threes.
Then, against the Sixers, he broke another record - this time surpassing Keegan Murray’s mark to become the fastest player to reach 150 made threes, doing it in just 46 games. That’s not just hot shooting - that’s historic pace.
But Knueppel isn’t just a one-dimensional scorer. He’s one of only two players in the league this season averaging at least 15 points and 5 rebounds per game while shooting 42% from beyond the arc.
The other? None other than Nikola Jokic - a two-time MVP and one of the most versatile players the league has ever seen.
That’s the kind of company Knueppel is keeping right now.
And it’s not just individual numbers. The Hornets are starting to find their rhythm as a team.
Quietly, they’ve crept to within 3.5 games of the Atlanta Hawks for the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference - the final spot in the NBA’s play-in tournament. For a team that’s been searching for an identity, Knueppel’s emergence might just be the spark they needed.
Coming into the season, most assumed the Rookie of the Year race would be a one-man show. Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks, was the preseason favorite - and with good reason. But Knueppel is making it clear he’s not just here to compete; he’s here to challenge.
Both Charlotte and Dallas are still trying to find their footing in the standings, but the race between Flagg and Knueppel is shaping up to be one of the most compelling storylines of the second half of the season. While their teams work through growing pains, these two rookies are giving fans something to rally around - and Knueppel, in particular, is proving he belongs in the spotlight.
He’s not just a shooter. He’s not just a rookie. He’s a rising star - and the rest of the league is starting to take notice.