Kon Knueppel’s rookie season has been one long spotlight. The Charlotte Hornets sharpshooter has already established himself as the frontrunner in his class, delivering efficiency and maturity rarely seen from a 20-year-old.
Now, Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller says Knupple can reach the greatness of Stephen Curry, but under one condition.
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Reggie Miller Says Knueppel Could Best Stephen Curry Under One Condition
Kuneppel’s scoring bursts and growing list of 30-point nights have vaulted him into early national conversations. But Miller made clear there’s one massive caveat before anyone can dream big.
Appearing on “The Dan Patrick Show” on Tuesday, Nov. 25, Miller, a Hall of Fame sharpshooter himself, was asked about Knueppel’s early-season eruption and whether he sees the rookie as a future threat to Steph Curry’s all-time three-point record.
His response was part admiration, part warning.
“Dare I say this… is Stephen Curry going to be a little nervous in about 15 years?” Miller teased, before delivering the real answer:
“Just go back and look at Steph’s first two or three years, in terms of three-pointers made, and what Kon has done this year. Here’s the problem — he’s got to stay healthy… can Kon Knueppel do that over a long period of time? I wanna see it, and Kon is doing it in Charlotte.”
Miller doubled down on the one condition behind any long-term projections: Knueppel has to maintain good health for more than a decade. Without that, Miller implied, the comparison to Curry is irrelevant.
Curry, the NBA’s all-time leader with 4,131 three-pointers, revolutionized the sport. Meanwhile, the Hornets’ rookie is drilling 3.7 threes per game, a number that blows away Curry’s 2.1 per game as a rookie.
It’s the type of early production that makes you run the numbers in your head, even if the road between now and history is ridiculously long.
Knueppel’s Breakout Rookie Year Puts Him in Rare Air
Knueppel has been Charlotte’s lone ray of optimism in a rough start to the season. Through 17 games, he’s averaging 19.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting a blistering 49.1% from deep.
His 3.7 made threes per game place him well ahead of every other first-year player, and he’s the only rookie with multiple 30-point outings.
The 20-year-old was nominated for Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the second time after scoring 20 or more in four straight contests. His range and poise echo his days at Duke University, where he showed early signs of NBA-ready perimeter skill.
Still, the Hornets’ season around him has been bleak: a 4–13 record, defensive struggles, and inconsistency everywhere except Knueppel’s jumper.
The rookie will look to pad his breakout résumé when Charlotte faces the New York Knicks on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Whether he ever climbs into Curry’s rarefied air is a story that will take years to write. Still, for now, Knueppel is giving the league every reason to keep watching.