SALT LAKE CITY —After the Utah Jazz fell to the fifth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, one name they’ll monitor closely is Duke wing Kon Knueppel.
The Jazz had a 52.1 percent chance of landing one of the top four picks in the draft, and a 47.9 percent chance of selecting fifth.
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Kon Knueppel Scouting Report
Bio: 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists: .479/.406/.914
Duke – Guard – 19 years old on draft night
Strengths: Arguably the best shooter in the draft, Knueppel was a critical piece in helping lead Duke to the Final Four as a freshman this season.
The 6-foot-5 wing shot a blistering 43 percent on catch-and-shoot threes, and 38 percent when coming off screens, but has more to his offensive arsenal than a traditional shooting specialist.
Weighing in at 220 pounds, Knueppel is a dynamic pick-and-roll player who excels as a playmaker, but can also get to the basket, where he finishes 63 percent of his shots at the rim.
The 19-year-old is a cerebral passer, anticipating defenses and capitalizing on mistakes with a collection of lobs and skip passes to maximize his teammates’ abilities.
Khaman Maluach has 50 dunks so far this season, 9 of which have come from Kon Knueppel alley-oop lobs.
Their synergy in ball screens, dunk or no dunk, has been awesome. It’s why teams will be excited to pair Maluach with a playmaker in NBA spacing. But it also highlights how… pic.twitter.com/Hi0ekWn6sQ
— NBA Draft Dude 🤙 (@CoreyTulaba) February 25, 2025
Though he doesn’t have an elite first step, the wing is a consistent threat to get into the heart of a defense off the dribble, where he draws fouls or finds teammates for easy baskets.
Knueppel has a non-stop motor on both ends of the floor that creates havoc for the opposition, cutting through the paint and around screens, while also eating up space as a smart positional defender.
While he’s not a lockdown defender, the Milwaukee native clearly reads the scouting report and was regularly able to beat his man to advantageous spots on the floor for easy driving lanes.
Kon Knueppel played an essential role for Duke, shouldering significant shot-creation duties while spacing the floor and holding his own defensively. He’s an outstanding passer, especially out of pick and roll, with a unique combination of competitiveness, feel and versatility. pic.twitter.com/Z5R7Mg1kye
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 16, 2025
Even with his high talent level, the freshman was an impressive hustle player, impacting individual plays with multiple actions and diving after loose balls.
With his strong frame, lights-out shooting, and confident ball-handling skills, Knueppel could play as many as four positions on offense as his body develops.
Weaknesses: Though an ankle injury prevented him from participating in the athletic testing portion of the NBA Combine, Knueppel should not be expected to jump off the charts literally or figuratively when he is tested.
At 6-foot-5 without shoes, and just over a 6-foot-6 wingspan, Knueppel lacks the elite physical and athletic tools that help most players excel at the next level.
As a result, his upside as an isolation player or on-ball defender may be somewhat limited, which lowers his star upside compared to other players projected to be selected in the top five.
Duke’s Kon Knueppel’s official measurements from the NBA Draft Combine:
6’5 barefoot, 219 lbs with a 6’6 ¼” wingspan and 8’5 ½” standing reach pic.twitter.com/Kg2wVJtOvz
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 12, 2025
Despite an enormously high effort level, there are moments when Knueppel simply gets outjumped by opposing players on both ends of the floor, which hurts him as a rebounder and rim finisher.
With his bulky frame, Knueppel could bully smaller players at college, but may have a harder time doing that at the pro level.
Though he projects as one of the best shooters in the draft, Knueppel was a poor shooter off the dribble and in the pick-and-roll behind the three-point line.
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The Duke standout shot just 3-21 (14 percent off the dribble) and 2-15 in the pick-and-roll from the three-point line.
While those are small sample sizes that would look dramatically different with just a handful more makes, it will be a key piece in his development if he wants to tap into his full upside as an offensive creator.
How Would Kon Knueppel Fit With The Jazz?
If the Jazz front office stands by head coach Will Hardy’s mantra of playing hard and passing, there’s perhaps no better player suited for Utah than Knueppel.
With the additions of Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, and Cody Williams last summer, the Jazz could add another high-IQ young prospect to their roster of players who can think the game at a high level.
Knueppel would excel as a complementary pick-and-roll player alongside Walker Kessler, while his gravity generates space for every other player on the roster.
Kon Knueppel Shooting Breakdown
High level shooter off the catch with an amazing FT%. Concerning numbers off the dribble but still an effective scorer. Solid numbers off of movement. pic.twitter.com/sAJ8DFaixL
— Lucas (@redcooteay) April 7, 2025
Though the Jazz have added clear talent to the roster over the last two drafts, no player in their young core has experienced winning at the same level that Knueppel did at Duke.
While he may not develop into the superstar the Jazz had hoped for when finishing the season with the worst record in the NBA, Knueppel has the type of game that will help lead the team out of the rebuild and back to winning basketball.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone . Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.