When Kon Knueppel walked across the stage as the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the expectations were obvious. Lottery picks are supposed to flash talent. They are supposed to give fans hope.
What no one expected was just how quickly he would look comfortable.
Now, barely a year into his NBA career with the Charlotte Hornets, Knueppel is already being mentioned in conversations about the 2028 Olympics. And for once, it does not feel like empty hype.
A rookie who plays like he has been here before
There is something steady about Knueppel’s game. He does not rush. He does not force bad shots just to pad numbers. He looks like a player who understands pace and space, which is rare for someone who just turned 20.
He is averaging 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Those numbers pop on their own, but it is how he gets them that stands out. The footwork. The balance on his jumper. The way he relocates after giving up the ball.
At Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball, he was known as a knockdown shooter. That reputation followed him into the league. He is already one of the most reliable perimeter threats on Charlotte’s roster, and he is doing it without hunting shots.
For a rebuilding team, that matters. For Olympic evaluators, it matters even more.
The Olympic chatter is not random
The 2028 Summer Games will be in Los Angeles. That alone makes roster speculation more intense than usual. The spotlight will be massive.
An ESPN analyst recently projected a potential United States men’s national basketball team roster and included Knueppel as a reserve guard behind names like Tyrese Haliburton and Anthony Edwards.
At first glance, that feels aggressive. But then you think about it.
International basketball is different. The court is more compact. Defenses are tighter. Teams dare you to make shots. A player who can shoot over 40 percent from three on volume becomes a weapon. Add in Knueppel’s size and his willingness to move the ball, and you start to see the appeal.
He would not need to dominate the ball. He would need to space the floor, make the right reads and knock down open looks. That is already his game.
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The Cooper Flagg factor
It is hard to ignore the connection to Cooper Flagg.
The two were teammates at Duke and already understand how to play off each other. If Flagg continues on his projected path toward superstardom, Team USA could build around him in 2028. Having a familiar shooter who knows his tendencies would not hurt.
Short international tournaments are about chemistry as much as talent. Players who already trust each other can shorten that adjustment period.
Knueppel would fit naturally into that mix.
What still has to happen
None of this is guaranteed. The next two seasons will matter more than anything being said in February 2026.
Knueppel will need to prove he can:
Stay efficient when defenses start game planning for himHold his own defensively against elite wingsPerform in playoff level intensityEarn the respect of veteran stars
Team USA is not just about numbers. It is about trust and role acceptance. Coaches want players who will not blink in a semifinal against France or Serbia.
Right now, Knueppel is building the foundation. If he keeps trending upward, the Olympic conversation will only get louder.
And the wild part is this: it no longer feels like a stretch.
For a 20-year-old rookie in Charlotte, that is saying something.
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