Kon Knueppel’s media availability at NBA draft combine.
Kon Knueppel II had his media availability at the NBA combine in Chicago.
Kon Knueppel delivered a whale of a first impression in the NBA Summer League.
The Wisconsin Lutheran alumnus and No. 4 overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the June draft led his team to a Summer League championship and landed title-game MVP honors after scoring 21 points to help Charlotte defeat Sacramento on July 20, 83-78.
The Summer League, annually held in Las Vegas, features draft picks as well as young players on the fringe of NBA rosters.
Knueppel doesn’t need to worry about making the Hornets — he’s a big part of the franchise’s future after the Duke University freshman was taken so early in the draft — and he sure left the franchise with something to be excited about after they went 6-0 in the preseason showcase and made the Summer League playoffs for the first time.
Knueppel played with a bandage over his right eye after taking a hard fall in his previous game. He also had five rebounds and a pair of assists in the championship performance.
Knueppel also had 17 points in the semifinal, a win over Oklahoma City. He added 19 with six assists and five rebounds in a July 17 win over the Spurs. Summer League games are 40 minutes long, shorter than the customary 48 for an NBA game.