Charlotte Hornets coach Charles Lee commended rookie Kon Knueppel for the way he has made an impact on the court through the first four games of the preseason.
Knueppel produced nine points, four assists and one rebound on Wednesday in a 145-116 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. He went 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and was a plus-21 in 25 minutes as a starter.
The fourth pick also showcased his ability to act as a facilitator and move the ball on offense, thanks to his vision and cutting. He was also used in several pick-and-roll situations as the screener, leading to open looks for him and his teammates, which stood out to Lee.
I think Kon has done a great job of finding his way, learning things, picking things up (and) understanding his spots. He feeds really well off the group. I think having some really good players around him and guys that want to, obviously, support him and see him be as good as he possibly can, helps. I think he is a darn good player himself. (He) wants to impact winning and find ways to add to the group. That is his impact out there. That is his focus is to add value to the group.
Knueppel is averaging 11.8 points, three rebounds and 2.5 assists on 32.1% shooting from the field in 23.8 minutes per game. He has finished in double figures twice, including an 18-point performance in his debut on Oct. 5 in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The 20-year-old is a part of a stacked draft class for the Hornets, along with Liam McNeeley (29th pick), Sion James (33rd pick) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (34th pick). He is projected to play a pivotal role for the team and could be an opening-night starter.
Knueppel enters the 2025-26 season sixth in Rookie of the Year odds and should have a productive campaign. The team is eager to see him take the court in an official capacity and has been encouraged by the early results in the preseason.