While all the hype surrounding the beginning of the 2025 NBA season in October centers on former Duke star and current Dallas Maverick Cooper Flagg, there is another former Blue Devil who should have his team’s fan base excited for the future.
Kon Knueppel, who was teammates with Flagg in their one season at Duke, was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the fourth overall pick in June’s draft, just three picks after Flagg. And while Knueppel didn’t get the headlines that the No. 1 overall pick received during his time in Durham or leading up to the season, one NBA pundit thinks Knueppel is going to be a star in the league.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, a well-known NBA fan and writer, made a recent comment on a podcast about Knueppel.
“I rarely do this,” Simmons said. “I guarantee this guy is gonna actually be on the team in 2028 (Olympics). That’s how strongly I feel about this person… Kon Knueppel.”
Knueppel starts his NBA career with a matchup against the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 22.