Austin Reaves has been making waves with the Lakers, but the debate over his ranking among the NBA's elite is heating up. Former NBA guard Jeff Teague stirred the pot on his podcast by claiming he’d choose Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel over Reaves, suggesting a shift in the pecking order. Teague even went as far as to call Knueppel the best white American player in the league.
Teague stated, “Kon Knueppel is arguably the best White American Basketball player in the league. I would take him over Austin Reaves because he looks comfortable as hell.
Cooper Flagg is good, but he’s not like this. Not efficient like this.
If you put Kon Knueppel on Dallas, he’d still be good. Cooper Flagg would still be good with the Hornets, but I don’t know if they’re winning like that.”
While Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic dominate as European stars, Reaves has been a standout American player. Despite going undrafted, he’s carved out a significant role with the Lakers. This season, at 27, Reaves is putting up career-best numbers: 23.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game, shooting 49.2% from the field and 36.1% from beyond the arc.
Yet, Teague and others see Knueppel as having the edge. Knueppel’s stats-19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game with 48.9% shooting and an impressive 43.8% from three-might not surpass Reaves’, but his impact on the Hornets is undeniable. Sitting ninth in the East at 39-34, the Hornets are more competitive than they've been in years, largely thanks to Knueppel's efficient play.
Knueppel shone in a recent win over the Knicks, scoring 26 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out eight assists while shooting 64.3% from the field and 60.0% from three. This performance marked the Hornets’ fifth straight win, solidifying their playoff aspirations.
What sets Knueppel apart is his natural game sense. At just 20, he plays with a maturity beyond his years, reminiscent of seasoned veterans. This innate confidence suggests that the sky's the limit for the former Duke standout.
With his pivotal role in the Hornets' resurgence, it’s no shocker that Knueppel leads the Rookie of the Year race. The challenge will be maintaining this level of play as expectations rise.
As for Reaves, his focus remains on continual improvement. Titles and labels aside, his drive to excel is what first caught LeBron James’ attention. With new competition on the horizon, fans can anticipate Reaves bringing his A-game, pushing himself to new heights.