Some of the NBA‘s rookies have been the league’s biggest stories during the 2025-26 season so far. Cooper Flagg recently became the youngest player ever to score 40 points. Derik Queen continues to impress for the New Orleans Pelicans, too, but Kon Knueppel just smashed a rookie record to grab the headlines.
Knueppel has been considered a huge contender for the Rookie of the Year award early in the season. He has impressed with the Charlotte Hornets; no rookie has ever shot it quite like Kon. And unsurprisingly, he has utterly smashed one three-point record by a wide margin.
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Knueppel made five three-pointers in Charlotte’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the process, he reached 100 made threes in what was just his 29th game in the league. No other player in history has managed this feat in under 40 games, meaning Kon’s achievement is simply on a different level.
Lauri Markkanen is second, having taken 41 games to do it, while Keegan Murray and Luka Doncic are tied for third place at 42 games. It takes time for young stars to adjust at the highest level, but this seemingly isn’t true for Knueppel. He’s simply automatic from deep to start his career.
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Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel shoots beside Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
The rookie is shooting 41 percent from three-point range this season while attempting over eight a game. His team clearly trusts him to take many shots, and he’s repaid that trust in spades. Knueppel will be a problem for the rest of the NBA for years to come.
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