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Former Duke Blue Devil Kon Knueppel has exceeded expectations at every turn in his first season with the Charlotte Hornets and continues to draw praise, even from rival coaches.
Ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers' recent matchup against Knueppel and company, Sixers coach Nick Nurse had some high praise for the rookie.
"I think, along with a lot of people, I think our group had him ranked really highly," Nurse said. "I think a lot of them, I don’t know if anybody saw all this coming, but I think there [were] some absolute high remarks and super high grades that people gave him that he was gonna be this good, and he’s been tremendous."
The fourth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, much was expected of Knueppel, even in his rookie season. Without exaggeration, he has far surpassed what even his biggest supporters believed he could accomplish in his rookie season.
Through 74 games, Knueppel is averaging 18.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists, and has become the odds-on favorite for this year's Rookie of the Year award, potentially over former teammate Cooper Flagg.
Praised for his shooting coming to Duke and entering the draft, Knueppel has proven elite in that area—but has also shown he’s much more than a specialist, something Nurse has clearly picked up on.
"The shooting’s one thing, but there’s scoring, there’s toughness, there’s IQ, there’s team player, all those things that look like he’s exhibited, and he’s been absolutely all that and more," Nurse said. "I think lots of people liked him in the draft, for sure, and he’s proved those people right, and the people that didn’t, he’s proved those people wrong."
Knueppel's shooting is elite. He's among the NBA's top five in three-point percentage, leads the league in threes made (257) and has even become the youngest player in NBA history to make 250 or more three-point shots in a single season, the only player to do so while 22 years old or younger. But as Nurse has said, he's proven to be so much more.
In less than one season, Knueppel has helped transform the Hornets from a bottom dweller to a legitimate playoff contender in a crowded Eastern Conference. Leading the Hornets in Win Shares (7.8) and Value Over Replacement Player (3.1), his impact has arguably been the most significant to a Charlotte team that needed a major change in talent and culture. Kon Knueppel has been the face of that change.
Knueppel has blended seamlessly alongside big-time personalities in LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges. While the Hornets desperately needed a shooter of Knueppel's level, they arguably needed a well-rounded talent who could fill in for their top talents' deficiencies.
In Knueppel, the Hornets have a player who is ready and willing to set the tone with physical and mental toughness, act as a secondary ball-handler, taking pressure primarily off of LaMelo Ball, while creating enough gravity to open space on the floor. Simply put, Kon Knueppel contributes to winning basketball by making the right plays and making life easier for his teammates on the court.
Against the 76ers Saturday night, Knueppel posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. While his Hornets were unable to walk away with the win, he proved he was worthy of praise from Philadelphia's coach by contributing across the board, as he has all season. Even on nights when he's not taking on the bulk of the scoring load, Kon Knueppel continues to show why even opposing coaches view him as one of the NBA’s most impactful young players.
This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Rival coach praises Kon Knueppel, explains what makes him special
Continue reading...
Ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers' recent matchup against Knueppel and company, Sixers coach Nick Nurse had some high praise for the rookie.
"I think, along with a lot of people, I think our group had him ranked really highly," Nurse said. "I think a lot of them, I don’t know if anybody saw all this coming, but I think there [were] some absolute high remarks and super high grades that people gave him that he was gonna be this good, and he’s been tremendous."
The fourth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, much was expected of Knueppel, even in his rookie season. Without exaggeration, he has far surpassed what even his biggest supporters believed he could accomplish in his rookie season.
Through 74 games, Knueppel is averaging 18.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists, and has become the odds-on favorite for this year's Rookie of the Year award, potentially over former teammate Cooper Flagg.
Praised for his shooting coming to Duke and entering the draft, Knueppel has proven elite in that area—but has also shown he’s much more than a specialist, something Nurse has clearly picked up on.
Nick Nurse breaks down what makes Knueppel special
"The shooting’s one thing, but there’s scoring, there’s toughness, there’s IQ, there’s team player, all those things that look like he’s exhibited, and he’s been absolutely all that and more," Nurse said. "I think lots of people liked him in the draft, for sure, and he’s proved those people right, and the people that didn’t, he’s proved those people wrong."
Knueppel's shooting is elite. He's among the NBA's top five in three-point percentage, leads the league in threes made (257) and has even become the youngest player in NBA history to make 250 or more three-point shots in a single season, the only player to do so while 22 years old or younger. But as Nurse has said, he's proven to be so much more.
In less than one season, Knueppel has helped transform the Hornets from a bottom dweller to a legitimate playoff contender in a crowded Eastern Conference. Leading the Hornets in Win Shares (7.8) and Value Over Replacement Player (3.1), his impact has arguably been the most significant to a Charlotte team that needed a major change in talent and culture. Kon Knueppel has been the face of that change.
Knueppel has blended seamlessly alongside big-time personalities in LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges. While the Hornets desperately needed a shooter of Knueppel's level, they arguably needed a well-rounded talent who could fill in for their top talents' deficiencies.
In Knueppel, the Hornets have a player who is ready and willing to set the tone with physical and mental toughness, act as a secondary ball-handler, taking pressure primarily off of LaMelo Ball, while creating enough gravity to open space on the floor. Simply put, Kon Knueppel contributes to winning basketball by making the right plays and making life easier for his teammates on the court.
Against the 76ers Saturday night, Knueppel posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. While his Hornets were unable to walk away with the win, he proved he was worthy of praise from Philadelphia's coach by contributing across the board, as he has all season. Even on nights when he's not taking on the bulk of the scoring load, Kon Knueppel continues to show why even opposing coaches view him as one of the NBA’s most impactful young players.
This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Rival coach praises Kon Knueppel, explains what makes him special
Continue reading...
