Collin Sexton helps feed 100 families in conjunction with London's Catering and also gave out turkeys to families at the Boys & Girls Club in Charlotte on Monday. It's a tradition for Sexton annually, but this is the first time being involved in Charlotte. By DIAMOND VENCES| ROD BOONE
Stoic and unflappable as always, Kon Knueppel didn’t exactly smile wryly or offer up much of a bodily reaction because that’s not really in his makeup.
Even so, it wasn’t hard to tell the Charlotte Hornets rookie allowed himself to briefly soak in the glow of the compliment delivered by James Harden over the weekend, when the LA Clippers star called Knueppel “a great pickup for Charlotte and the Hornets” and how Harden said he was “excited to see what he will continue to do.”
Knueppel appreciates Harden’s ringing endorsement, which included a choice word.
“Yeah, that’s awesome,” Knueppel told The Charlotte Observer following Tuesday’s practice. “You know, obviously he had a pretty good game against us. He’s been doing that his whole career. He’s one of the best scorers of all time. So, being able to watch him growing up and what he said about me, that’s pretty cool.”
Through the season’s first month, Knueppel is turning heads and easily been one of the top performers of his draft class, vaulting him up to the No. 1 spot in the BetOnline.ag odds to garner the NBA’s rookie of the year award.
Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets reacts in the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Spectrum Center on Oct. 22, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jacob Kupferman Getty Images
Leading into Wednesday’s Emirates NBA Cup matchup with the New York Knicks at Spectrum Center, Knueppel ranks third on the Hornets in scoring at 19.4 points, has made 57% of his attempts overall and nailed 43.8% beyond the 3-point arc.
“Yeah, he’s been great,” Miles Bridges said, “been our best player. He’s been consistent and he brings it every game, every day. That’s just the type of player he is, so it’s been great playing with him.”
In 17 games, including 16 appearances in the starting lineup, he ranks fourth in the NBA in made 3-pointers with 63. He also is atop the rookie leaderboard in total points, field goals and 3-point percentage. He also ranks in the top five for rookies in free throws and rebounds.
And, by the way, he’s the first player in NBA history to make 50 3-pointers within his first 15 games. His also holds the franchise record for made 3-pointers in a game after netting seven against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.
What’s working so well for Knueppel?
“I think finding the right balance, just trying to make reads out of closeouts,” he said. “Also playing the ball in the hands a little bit, trying to make reads that way, making plays for my teammates. And it just helps in the shots going in, too. It opens up so much more offensively.
“Just striving to be better defensively here, though. That’s where we need to get better. That’s where we need to get better as a team.”
Individually, Knueppel is even more driven to improve on defense than he was just a few weeks ago. The determination factor is constantly kicking in and it won’t allow him to lapse mentally for a single possession.
Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, left, loses control of the ball as Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner, right, applies defensive pressure during action at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
“It sounds simple, but I just don’t want to mess up, you know what I mean?” Knueppel said. “Part of it — half the battle for me — is just being in the right spot, being in the gap early in our shifts, being able to show and then just having pride on the ball. That’s something we’ve been working at every day in here.
“We’ve just got to be better on the ball at the end of the day. Sometimes it comes down to just you and your guy one-on-one. We can really have help, but if you’re getting beat every time off the dribble, it just makes it tough on the defense. So, that individual pride is running, striving to go.”
Kueppel’s growing confidence level is becoming more obvious by the quarter. He’s figuring out some of the inner schematic details that separates good players from great ones, such as when to fire away from the perimeter or put the ball on the floor and become a double-threat to either shoot or find an open teammate.
“Yeah, I think part of it is just playing at a pace I’m comfortable with,” Knueppel said. “I’ve had a couple of games where I have a lot of turnovers, where I get sped up. But just trying to play at a comfortable pace in the lane. Sometimes, driving in the lane, keeping your dribble alive. We call it a (Steve) Nash dribble. Going to the other side and then finding the guy, just keeping the play alive, not picking it up and getting stuck in a tough spot.”
If he can master that, perhaps he’ll eventually wind up as the Eastern Conference player of the week. He was among the nominees for the award doled out Monday thanks to pacing the Hornets in scoring for the past four games.
“That’s cool,” Knueppel said. “Hopefully we can get some wins here, though. I feel better about that.”
Collin Sexton gives back to Charlotte
Although Collin Sexton hasn’t been in Charlotte long, given he was acquired in June via trade from the Utah Jazz, there is little doubt the Atlanta native is enjoying his time in the Queen City.
The most recent example came earlier this week.
In conjunction with London’s Catering, Sexton held a dinner for 100 families at the Boys & Girls Club in Charlotte on Monday and also handed out turkeys. He’s deeply grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community, especially those who can use the assistance the most, and understands there are bigger things at play.
Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton poses with fans during an event he hosted at the Boys & Girls Club in Charlotte. Roderick Boone roboone@charlotteobserver.com
“Just being a blessing,” Sexton said, “a blessing to help so many families who are in need and also being a blessing for the things that I have. I’m super grateful for this opportunity to be able to use my platform to give back and give back to the next generation.
“At the end of the day, these kids, they need to see you sometimes. ‘If he made it, I can make it as well.’ And sometimes being able to see someone that has made it, that means way more than giving money or anything. Being able to have that conversation is a huge thing.”
The Observer caught up with Sexton and spoke about why he enjoys connecting with fans, his continued transition to his new team, thoughts on the Hornets making a run and more:
Roderick Boone: What’s it like connecting with the fans in Charlotte, especially in an event such as the one your giveaway?
Collin Sexton: Oh, man it’s been amazing. I’m going to be honest with you. This has been amazing. I’ve always wanted to do something like this. Wherever I am, I’ve been doing it. I’ve been doing it every year since I’ve been in the league. So, it’s something that is a routine now. It’s something that is dear to my heart and it’s something that my family and I, we’re going to continue to strive to do and make it even better.
RB: How does it make you feel when kids come up to you and say, ‘Oh, he plays with Hornets, I see him on TV?’
CS: I would say it makes me feel good. But also it’s one of those feelings that you can’t explain, that it’s better to give than receive. And I always try to tell people, sometimes you have to give time to the next generation. Because if you look around this room, we’ve got doctors, lawyers, firefighters, we have dentists. This is the next generation. And we have to pour into the next generation of kids so that they can take care of us.
RB: LaMelo Ball said he believes the team is going to go on a run. Do you think there’s still enough time to turn it around?
CS: Absolutely. I feel like we can turn things around. At the end of the day, all we’ve got to do is have a really good stretch. And at the end of the day, we’re getting guys back to where they’ll be able to play and be able to be out there with us. So, we’re going to continue to hold it down. We just have that next man up mentality and just be ready for whatever. And I feel like we’ve been having that with some of the vet guys as well. Like Mase (Mason Plumlee) and Pat (Connaughton). They’ve been coming out and giving great energy and it’s been amazing.
Even the two-way guys like KJ (Simpson), Antonio (Reeves) Drew (Peterson), they’ve been coming in and playing well and giving us that spark that we need. So, I just want us to continue to stay together but also continue to know this too shall pass.
Collin Sexton of the Charlotte Hornets reacts against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first of the NBA game at Spectrum Center on November 01, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Grant Halverson Getty Images
RB: How much more comfortable are you now in your role of trying to figure out what Coach wants from you out there on the floor?
CS: I would say still trying to figure it out. Trying to figure out what’s needed, whether starting or not. Whenever I come into the game, being able to make an impact right away and being able to help with whatever the game needs. If the game needs pace, if the game needs ball pressure, if the game needs, ‘OKk get guys involved.’ If that’s what the game needs. So, just figuring out what the game needs and what the team needs as well at one point in time.
So, when I’m a starter, just being able to impact things, come in the game, impact and do what I do. I’ve just been having real conversations, that continuous dialogue so that we’re on the same page. At the end of the day when you’re a point guard, you have to be able to have that trust in the coach, he has to have trust in you. So, we’re building trust and I feel like it’s just better since it’s way better than him in the beginning of the season. Every week is better.
RB: With Kon, what’s impressed you most so far in the first month of the season?
CS: I would say his confidence. Playing with confidence. It’s one of those things that we’re going to continue to push him, we’re going to continue to support him, and we want him to continue to do well. He’s one of those pieces that we need so that we can get over that hump. We want him to just keep going. We don’t want him to be timid at all. And I feel like him not being timid helps us. So, I’m super, super proud of him, but also super proud of the other rookies. Ryan (Kalkbrenner) has been huge for us.
You have Ryan back there and he’s going to be there to help you, but also one of those people, he’s just a good person as well and he’s very coachable. So, I feel like sometimes the impact of what you’re doing on the court, it weighs up. He’s a great person. Ryan is a great person. He’s playing really well and he was blessed to have a baby. So, Ryan has been huge for us.
Sion (James) has come in and made a huge impact right away, and I feel like his defensive energy and hunger has helped us when we’re not getting and need his physicality. Even Liam (McNeeley). We’ve got Liam back from illness, so now he’s going to be able to get us flowing and get us working. So, the rookies are doing great and I’m super, super proud of how far they’ve come and the confidence that they came with. We’re going to need that down the road.