charlotte hornets
charlotte hornets
A top NBA coach perfectly explained why Charlotte Hornets sharpshooter Kon Knueppel is set up for a sophomore slump next season after the team traded away gifted point guard LaMelo Ball.
While there were quite a few major trades this summer, one that surprised many around the NBA was the Hornets sending Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a deal that landed them Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round swaps, three second-rounders, and a $40.7 million trade exception.
Although his name was in trade rumors over the last year, it seemed less likely now after he developed great chemistry with Knueppel and Brandon Miller at the end of the 2025-26 season. Heading into this year’s playoffs, the Hornets were one of the hottest teams in the NBA.
While they got good value for the oft-injured one-time All-Star in the trade, there has been a lot of talk about the effect his exit will have on Charlotte’s success in 2026-27.
LaMelo Ball had a huge impact on Kon Knueppel’s breakout rookie season
One interesting negative effect of the Ball trade on the Hornets’ young core was perfectly explained this week by the talented guard’s new coach, Chris Finch, during an appearance on the Road Trippin’ Show.
“We didn’t create enough catch-and-shoot threes for [Anthony Edwards], and when you look at the numbers with LaMelo on the floor with his teammates and the efficiency and the production, I mean Kon Knueppel shot 7% higher from the three-point line with LaMelo on the floor than he did without. I mean that’s a massive stat for a great shooter and that’s a big bump for a great shooter.”
Should the Charlotte Hornets be worried about Kon Knueppel in his second season?
When the Hornets took the Duke star with the fourth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, they were hopeful he could be a contributor in his rookie campaign. However, last year’s class was considered weak, and he was viewed by some as a bit of a reach at four. However, he quieted his doubters this past season.
In his NBA debut, Knueppel actually put up better numbers than he did in college. He averaged 18.5 points for the Hornets and 14.4 for the Blue Devils. He also shockingly shot better from three in the pros (43%) than he did in college (41%). Shooting percentages always go down, especially from three, when youngsters make the jump from college to the NBA. But not for the sharpshooter.
It shows the positive impact Ball had on Knueppel by getting him the ball where he needed it and drawing the attention of opposing defenses. Ball averaged just over seven assists a game this season. The Hornets will be asking a lot of Coby White or rookie Christian Anderson to put up similar numbers. While Charlotte fans may not want to hear it, Knueppel could regress in his second season.