Winning is Kon-tagious: The Rise of Kon Knueppel

The Rise of Kon Knueppel

Kon Knueppel made a name for himself last season at Duke University. As a freshman, he averaged 14.4 points, four rebounds, and just under 3 assists. He played the role of Robin for the Blue Devils, as number one overall pick Cooper Flagg was Batman. It was clear Knueppel had a ton of talent, but the question coming in was whether he could handle a bigger role in the NBA.

Although we’re just halfway through his rookie season, he has quickly answered the question, and it appears to be a resounding yes. Selected fourth overall by the Hornets, Knueppel was put into one of the most unique positions in the NBA. All summer long, there were rumors that star point guard LaMelo Ball would be traded away. The Hornets opted to keep Ball, forcing Knueppel to play on the wing rather than bring the ball up. He has thrived so far in this position, as it has allowed him to be in a spot to quickly knock down threes off a catch-and-shoot.

(image via nba.com website)

While Knueppel relied heavily on the catch-and-shoot game in college, he has even further developed his offensive arsenal at an astonishing rate. He appears to be much more confident going off the dribble and taking it to the cup, even finishing over taller defenders. His mid-range jumper has become more reliable as well, after that was more of an afterthought at Duke. This clear growth offensively is a major reason why he is in the ROTY conversation and has already been so effective in Charlotte.

The offensive evolution is undoubtedly due to his shot mechanics. Watching as a fan, he truly has one of the smoothest jump shots I’ve seen in all the NBA, reminiscent of a young Klay Thompson. He put the jumper on display this past weekend at All-Star Weekend during the Three-Point Contest, where he entered as the favorite. While he didn’t bring home the trophy, he went toe-to-toe with two of the NBA’s best in Damian Lillard and Devin Booker. Proving to fans he’s the real deal.

(image via @hornets on X)

His prolific offense has led the Hornets to a 26-29 record, and right in the thick of the playoff hunt. But it’s not just Knueppel who has been exploding offensively. Third-year player Brandon Miller has had his best season yet, averaging 21 points, five rebounds, and three assists. LaMelo Ball is contributing 7 assists a game while improving his three-point shot. Additionally, rookies Ryan Kalkbrenner and Sion James have been able to play high-level defense all season long.

Personally, this team reminds me a lot of the Pacers of the last two seasons. Do I think this team has what it takes to make it to the NBA Finals, or even make a conference championship appearance? No. But they have an eerily similar offensive identity. They have multiple lethal three-point shooters, a star point guard with an elite knack for distributing the basketball, and the ability to push the pace for 48 minutes a night.

While it’s not the same situation as the Pacers were in, Knueppel’s emergence has already ignited a spark in the Hornets organization that hasn’t been lit for years. It appears Charlotte is slowly stepping out of the darkness. And with Kon and Co. at the helm, you can’t help but start to believe this could be the beginning of something special.