Rookie Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets shared his "welcome to the NBA" moments, recalling the challenge of defending stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, and Luka Doncic.
Rookie Kon Knueppel has been turning heads with the Charlotte Hornets this season, but he admits there have been moments that remind him just how tough the NBA really is.
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On SportsCenter, Knueppel shared what his 'Welcome to the NBA' moments were. "There's a few. Just getting back in transition and Giannis is running at you, full head of steam. I think he scored," he said of facing Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Hornets rookie also recalled the difficulty of guarding sharpshooters and playmakers.
"I think of closing out to Steph Curry and thinking 'no chance this doesn't go in.' Or like Luka getting a switch and an iso on the wing," Knueppel added, highlighting the challenges of defending Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic.
Despite these learning moments, Knueppel has excelled on both ends of the floor. He is averaging 19.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 48.9% from the field and 44.0% from three.
The Hornets have recovered from a slow start and now sit at 31-31, preparing for a Wednesday night matchup against the Boston Celtics.
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