Kon Knueppel is wasting no time making his mark on the NBA. The league named him the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for October and November, and frankly, it was an easy call. The Charlotte Hornets’ rookie has been nothing short of electric to start his professional career, delivering a level of production that even the most optimistic draft-night projections didn’t quite see coming.
Through the first stretch of the season, Knueppel is averaging 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. But it’s not just the counting stats that jump off the page-it’s how he’s doing it.
He’s shooting 41.5% from deep on a volume that’s almost unheard of for a rookie. To put that in perspective, he’s knocking down 1.5 more threes per game than the next closest rookie, and he’s on track to obliterate the rookie record for made threes in a single season.
That’s not just hot shooting-that’s historic pace.
What makes Knueppel’s early success even more impressive is how quickly he’s adapted to whatever role the Hornets need him to fill. Some nights, he’s the go-to scorer.
Other nights, he’s spacing the floor and making the right reads. But regardless of the role, he’s consistently been one of Charlotte’s most impactful players.
That’s rare for a rookie, especially one who came into the league with questions about his athletic ceiling.
Those doubts? Knueppel’s already leaving them in the dust.
There was plenty of pre-draft chatter about his supposed “low upside,” but he’s proving that basketball IQ, skill, and feel for the game can be just as valuable-if not more so-than raw athleticism. He’s showing the kind of versatility and poise that usually takes young players a season or two to develop.
As things stand, Knueppel has a strong case to be the front-runner for Rookie of the Year. But that path won’t be without competition.
Out West, Cooper Flagg-his former Duke teammate-earned Rookie of the Month honors for the Western Conference and came into the season with a ton of hype. Flagg was widely viewed as the early favorite for the award, and that narrative momentum still matters.
But if Knueppel keeps up this level of production, he’ll force voters to take notice, regardless of preseason expectations.
It’s also worth noting the other standout rookies in the East. VJ Edgecombe and Charlotte’s own Ryan Kalkbrenner were both nominated for Rookie of the Month as well.
Edgecombe has shown flashes of elite two-way potential, and Kalkbrenner’s size and rim protection are already making an impact. The Hornets, in particular, have to be thrilled with what they’re seeing from their rookie class.
Still, right now, this is Knueppel’s moment. He’s not just putting up numbers-he’s changing the trajectory of Charlotte’s season. And if this is just the beginning, the Hornets may have landed a franchise cornerstone.