One of the most anticipated Summer League matchups lost a bit of its shine on Monday night when No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg was shut down for the rest of the summer prior to the Dallas Mavericks’ clash with the Charlotte Hornets — a game that featured Flagg’s former Duke teammate and roommate, Kon Knueppel.
Knueppel, who was selected No. 4 overall, made the most of the moment. With Flagg watching from the sidelines, the Hornets cruised to a dominant 87-69 victory, and Knueppel turned in his best performance of the summer, finishing with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. The Hornets now improve to 3-0 in Summer League play.
Following the matchup, despite not suiting up, Flagg shared a postgame moment with his former teammate — a gesture that caught attention online. Duke’s basketball program even shared a video of the interaction, celebrating the reunion between two of their most recent stars.
Check it out:
The two were close friends during their time at Duke and were instrumental in the team’s success — helping the Blue Devils win 35 games, secure the ACC title, and make a run to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament.
On draft night, a viral moment captured just how strong their bond is. While Flagg was giving an interview near the front of the stage, Knueppel was selected No. 4 overall — and Flagg immediately erupted with joy.
“K Dot!! Let’s go! Oh my God! Let’s go!” Flagg shouted excitedly. “It’s surreal. Kon was my roommate last year, so just to see him have that moment with his family — it’s insane. That really just gave me chills. That was amazing.”