Hornets rookie hailed as the player who can break Steph Curry's three-point records

Cholo Martin Magsino

•
Hornets rookie hailed as the player who can break Steph Curry's three-point records image

Charlotte Hornets sharpshooter Kon Knueppel has been one of the most successful rookies from the 2025 NBA Draft class. He is not even the only player from Duke who has been a standout, as number one overall pick Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks is also balling out. 

In 35 games, Knueppel has been a stellar rookie with averages of 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He is one of the leading candidates for Rookie of the Year, especially with his elite three-point shooting at 43.5% from beyond the arc.

Cousins sees Knueppel as a potential all-time great shooter

Over the past decade, Stephen Curry has been the gold standard for three-point shooters. He is the innovator in the three-point revolution in the sport of basketball, and one of the players influenced by him is Knueppel. 

The Hornets have a generational shooter with Knueppel, as he has a beautiful jump shot. He has also trained to get the shot off in almost any situation, which continues to prove that he has grown up in an era when three-point shooting is a primary weapon. 

More: Hornets' Kon Knueppel makes basketball history by breaking Steph Curry's NBA rookie record

As a player who stood out in an era when Curry broke out, DeMarcus Cousins had a close look at the rise of the three-point shot. Cousins even got to play with Curry for a season on the Golden State Warriors.

Curry was not alone as an elite three-point shooter on the Warriors. Considering that Klay Thompson also played for that team, they proved that three-point shooting was a top-tier offensive weapon with their four championships together. Cousins has admitted that Knueppel could reach that kind of level.

"This kid is a superstar in the making. He's truly making a name for himself this season. He's a surprise name because obviously, Cooper Flagg took off with the headlines with his supreme talent. This kid has a chance to pretty much break all of Steph Curry's records when it comes to shooting," Cousins said about Knueppel's potential as a Rookie of the Year.

Cousins makes a great point about Knueppel's potential because he is shooting at an elite rate. Not only is he efficient, but he is also hitting it with good volume. This season, he became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 100 threes, reaching the mark in only 29 games.

As he progresses, Knueppel will be one of the league's best shooters. He already is at that level during his rookie season, so he will do even better as he develops into a star NBA player. 

More NBA News: 

Editorial Team