The Charlotte Hornets might not be ready for a championship run yet, but they are showing some promise.
One of their most promising players is rookie star Kon Knueppel, who has been putting up encouraging stats during his first year.
Evan Sidery summed up what makes Knueppel so special on social media.
“Kon Knueppel is looking like a home run draft pick for the Hornets at No. 4 overall. Knueppel’s highly efficient game has translated immediately into the NBA,” Sidery posted on X.
Kon Knueppel is looking like a home run draft pick for the Hornets at No. 4 overall:
14 points
4.9 rebounds
2.2 assists
61.6 TS%
43.1 3PT%
Knueppel’s highly efficient game has translated immediately into the NBA.pic.twitter.com/066hRAY2PD
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) November 3, 2025
Knueppel was showing how quickly he has adjusted to the league on Sunday night as he posted 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists over the Utah Jazz was his Hornets won 126-103.
Charlotte is 3-4, which means they still aren’t one of the best teams in the East, at least not yet.
But Knueppel is just getting started, and he could be part of the team’s next generation, one that helps them climb much higher in the rankings.
Knueppel was part of a wildly exciting draft, and obviously Cooper Flagg drew the most attention.
But Knueppel’s work so far this season proves that the 2025 draft class was about so much more than only Flagg.
For years now, Hornets fans have been waiting for their team to turn a corner and start to truly compete in the East.
They still have a long way to go, but Knueppel is a sign that they could be on the right track.
He has seamlessly made his way into the league and is giving Charlotte a taste of what their future may look like.
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