While much of the attention leading up to this year’s NBA draft is centered around Cooper Flagg—widely expected to be selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks—there are several other notable prospects with immense potential. One of them is Flagg’s Duke teammate, Kon Knueppel.
Knueppel had a strong season for the Blue Devils, but it was during the ACC Tournament that he truly showcased his potential. With Flagg sidelined due to injury, Knueppel stepped up as Duke’s primary option under head coach Jon Scheyer and led the team to an ACC Tournament title.
Now, as the NBA draft combine takes place this week, Knueppel is projected as a lottery pick—and possibly even a top-five selection. However, he received some disappointing news on Tuesday regarding his measurements.
While Knueppel’s height is above average for his position, his wingspan came in well below average, resulting in a merely average standing reach, which could be viewed as a slight concern to some scouts.
Check out his full measurements:
While this isn’t a major red flag for his long-term potential, NBA teams scrutinize every physical detail. With Knueppel also sitting out shooting drills due to an ankle injury—arguably sidelining his most lethal skill—some teams may think twice before using a high pick on him.
Several fans have compared Knueppel’s overall size and length to Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane, one of the league’s top young players. However, Bane has a noticeably more muscular and compact build than Knueppel.
To his credit, Knueppel wasn’t a defensive liability at Duke and he averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steal per game, on a team that went to the Final Four and won over 30 games.
Kon Knueppel
Apr 4, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2) and guard Kon Knueppel (7) during a practice session for the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Alamodome.
© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
However, NBA defense is a different animal compared to the college game. With limited wingspan—especially in a league where floor spacing and switching are critical—he could be exposed in certain matchups.
Still, Knueppel remains one of the more intriguing prospects in June’s draft thanks to his offensive versatility and proven production.