The No. 4 pick is starting — and thriving — as Charlotte’s sharpest new weapon
Four games into the NBA season, Kon Knueppel isn’t easing into anything. The Charlotte Hornets rookie has already started three of the team’s first four games and looks like one of the most polished young scorers in the league.
Knueppel, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is averaging 16.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 52.3% from the field and 53.3% from three. It’s early, but these are not accidental numbers — they’re signs of a player who knows how to score and isn’t overwhelmed by the jump to the pros.
In a blowout win over Washington, Knueppel posted 20 points (7-of-12 FG, 5-of-9 3PT), six rebounds, and two assists. Two nights later, he followed it with 19 points, four assists, and three rebounds against the Miami Heat. He’s hit at least three threes in every game so far and is doing it all in 29.5 minutes per game.
Knueppel has started three of Charlotte’s four games, earning his role out of training camp — not as a temporary replacement, but as a long-term piece. Even before Brandon Miller’s shoulder injury, the Hornets were committed to starting Knueppel. His shooting, IQ, and feel for the game made that decision a no-brainer.
“He just fits,” head coach Charles Lee said after the win over Washington. “He knows where to be, he plays smart basketball, and he doesn’t force anything. That’s rare for a rookie.”
At 6-6 and 215 pounds, Knueppel isn’t physically overpowering opponents, but he’s playing smart, confident basketball. At Duke, he was one of the most efficient scorers in college basketball, posting 14.4 points per game on 48/41/91 shooting splits. Those tools are translating. He moves off the ball like a veteran, makes sharp reads in the flow of the offense, and doesn’t hesitate when it’s his time to shoot.
This isn’t a hot streak — it’s how he plays.
Knueppel’s also clicking early with LaMelo Ball, benefiting from quick-hit passes in transition and kick-outs in the half court. That chemistry is real and growing — and it’s helping Charlotte generate better looks and more spacing than it had last season.
Defensively, Knueppel’s still finding his footing, but he competes and rarely makes the same mistake twice. His 0.5 steals per game show he’s active, and his rebounding (4.3 RPG) gives Charlotte another wing contributor on the glass.
The Hornets aren’t suddenly contenders, but Knueppel’s immediate production gives them a meaningful jolt. He’s the kind of high-floor, high-IQ player that makes young rosters better — and faster.
It’s early, but it’s real. Kon Knueppel didn’t wait his turn. He’s already forcing the league to notice.
