The Charlotte Hornets traveled to Indiana on Wednesday night, where rookie standout Kon Knueppel continued his impressive start to the season. The former Duke guard delivered another strong performance, finishing with a game-high 28 points along with eight rebounds and seven assists in a loss to the Pacers.
With his latest showing, Knueppel once again placed himself in elite company. He became just the fourth player in franchise history to score 20 or more points in five straight road games. The only other Hornets to accomplish the feat are his current teammate LaMelo Ball, Rex Chapman and Hall of Fame center Alonzo Mourning.
Knueppel’s night also brought another historic accomplishment. The rookie became the fastest player in NBA history to make 50 three-pointers, reaching the mark in only 15 games. His blend of accuracy and confidence has quickly made him one of Charlotte’s most reliable offensive weapons.
After the game, head coach Charles Lee praised the 20-year-old for his maturity and his ability to handle early success. “It’s great for a young player to have that type of success early on,” Lee said. “He’s humble enough to understand that a lot of it is him, and a lot of it is his teammates too. That combination is putting him in a good spot, and he’s converting and showing us what kind of player he can be.”
Despite Knueppel’s effort, the Hornets were unable to secure a win against Indiana, which entered the matchup at 1-13. Charlotte has now dropped four straight games and are 1-7 on the road.
The Hornets will have two days of rest before returning home to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.
More NBA news:
- Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel nearing Larry Bird-level efficiency
- San Antonio loses another young star to injury
- Suns acquire 20 PPG scorer from G League
- Jaime Jaquez Jr. Emerging as early Sixth Man of the Year candidate for Heat