The Charlotte Hornets struck gold with their selection from the 2025 NBA Draft, as they selected Kon Knueppel with the fourth overall pick. He has been a revelation for the Hornets, as he is a perfect fit alongside the core duo of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
In his rookie season, Knueppel is averaging 19.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. In fact, he is shooting quite efficiently with 48.2% from the field, 43.2% from the three-point line, and 90% from the free-throw line. It is one of the most impressive rookie campaigns of the season, as he is a Rookie of the Year candidate alongside his Duke teammate, Cooper Flagg.
Knueppel is already getting compared to a legend
As the Hornets wind down 2025, they played against the Golden State Warriors. Since they are a franchise with a tremendous history, it is a big deal when a player goes up against them. Playing against the likes of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green is significant because of their success over the past decade.
Head coach Steve Kerr also boasts a Hall of Fame resume, with four championships as a head coach and numerous titles as a player. With his extensive experience spanning multiple decades, he has witnessed numerous legendary players. In fact, he has seen a lot of promise with Knueppel, comparing him to former Warriors legend Chris Mullin.
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Knueppel is such an impressive player, as he is proving to be one of the best picks in recent history. The Hornets want to succeed, so building through the Draft remains the long-term vision. Now that they have Knueppel alongside Ball and Miller, they could have a strong offensive core moving forward.
"I see a lot of Chris Mullin. Really good size on the wing, big strong body, catch-and-shoot, but also incredible IQ, passing, making the right play over and over again. He's already a really, really damn good player," Kerr said after the Warriors' game against the Hornets.
This is huge praise coming from a champion head coach, as Knueppel has shown that he has another level to tap into. He has the movement shooting down, which could help keep his NBA job for the foreseeable future. It will be a challenging career because teams will have a scouting report for him, but that is the sign of a great player.
As long as Knueppel continues to showcase his strengths as a player and shooter, he will have a place in the NBA. Hornets fans are thankful that he is staying in Charlotte, as he appears to be a long-term piece.
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