Rookie Kon Knueppel returned to the starting lineup on Sunday, helping the Charlotte Hornets to a come-from-behind win against the Washington Wizards on the road.
Knueppel produced 20 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal in the 139-113 victory at Capital One Arena as the Hornets improved to 2-1. He finished by shooting 7-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range, in 35 minutes of work.
The fourth pick is one of five first-year players with at least 20 points in a game this season. He did the majority of his work from beyond the arc, though he also had a couple of nifty finishes at the rim after getting past the defense in the half-court.
“He is a great basketball player,” said LaMelo Ball, who had 38 points, 13 assists and 13 rebounds. “He knows the right stuff to do it, with a big frame. He plays defense and offense. He knows all of the plays, where to be, what to do. With a player like that, you obviously want him on the floor.”
Knueppel is averaging 15 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists on 57.9% shooting from 3-point range through the first three games of the season. He leads all rookies in 3s and is tied for fifth among all players after converting 11-of-19 in 90 minutes.
Hornets coach Charles Lee told Knueppel before the start of the season that he’ll be a starter for some games and play in the second unit in others. He helped the Hornets to a win over Toronto on Wednesday as a starter, and he came off the bench Saturday in a loss in Philadelphia.
Knueppel appears poised to play a significant role for the Hornets this season, based on his versatility and overall skill set. He has been effective in either role and has demonstrated a firm understanding of how the team wants to play, helping the group to a couple of wins early on.
“I think any player wants to be on the floor and affect the game and affect the game positively,” Knueppel said after the game. “Coach has that trust in me. It is pretty cool.”