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Kon Knueppel\u2019s media availability at NBA draft combine.<\/p>\n
Kon Knueppel II had his media availability at the NBA combine in Chicago.<\/p>\n
Before\u00a0Kon Knueppel was selected No. 4<\/a>\u00a0by the\u00a0Charlotte Hornets<\/a> in the 2025 NBA Draft, he teamed up with another legendary Wisconsinite.<\/p>\n The Wisconsin Lutheran High School alum<\/a> co-starred in a Charlie Berens original<\/a>. This one is about “when someone new walks into the bar.”<\/p>\n The video skit, which Berens shared on social media, starts off with the comedian posted up to a bar \u2014 divey, of course \u2014 sporting a fishing shirt and tattered gold cap.<\/p>\n “Holy smokes! Look at this cloud sniffer,” Berens said as the towering Knueppel walked in and popped a squat.<\/p>\n When Knueppel ordered a kiddie cocktail from the bartender, Berens interjected: “Liz, get the guy an old fashioned. It’s almost noon.”<\/p>\n One problem: Knueppel is only 19. When he let Berens know, the comedian responded with an “oh no.”<\/p>\n “So, how tall are you up to now?” Berens asked.<\/p>\n “I’m 6’6″,” Knueppel said.<\/p>\n But, Berens needed to verify that for himself. With a tape measure handy \u2014 naturally \u2014 Berens had the basketballer stand up.<\/p>\n “Is this really necessary?” Knueppel asked.<\/p>\n “Yeah. Measure twice, cut once,” Berens replied.<\/p>\n Astounded by Knueppel’s height, Berens hit him with a variation of the signature tall-person question:<\/p>\n “You play basketball? Or ya dust?” Berens asked. “What do you do?”<\/p>\n After Knueppel told Berens that he played for Duke, Berens gave him the ol’ “I played ball back in my day. I could’ve gone pro.”<\/p>\n Fellow patron Dave, who was playing a nearby slot machine, clocked that. And, after Berens and Dave did a little tit for tat, Knueppel was ready for his check.<\/p>\n “Oh, wait, wait,” Berens told Knueppel. “What do they call you?”<\/p>\n “Kon,” Knueppel replied.<\/p>\n “Oh yeah, me too,” Berens said. “What did they get you for?”<\/p>\n After Knueppel explained that’s his real name, Berens realized who he was …<\/p>\n “You’re Chari’s son!” Berens said (Yes, that’s actually Knueppel’s mom’s name. She was a college basketball star<\/a>, too). “You play for Duke! Why didn’t you just say so?”<\/p>\n “I did actually say that,” Knueppel said.<\/p>\n Berens informed Knueppel that Duke “really screwed up” his NCAA bracket for 2025’s March Madness. Knueppel helped take his team to the Final Four<\/a> before a shocking loss to Houston<\/a>.<\/p>\n Maybe obliging to a photo request from Berens would help make up for it?<\/p>\n After bartender Liz snapped it, Berens let Knueppel know he’d tag him on Facebook and said Knueppel could share the photo, too, if he wanted.<\/p>\n Too bad Liz cut out half of Berens’ head in the pic.<\/p>\n “Really, Liz?” Berens asked. “Is this ’cause I didn’t pay my tab?”<\/p>\n Knueppel is one of the most decorated basketball prospects<\/a> to ever hail from Wisconsin.<\/p>\n He led Wisconsin Lutheran to an undefeated 30-0 season his senior year, topped with a WIAA Division 2 state championship victory<\/a>. He was named 2024’s Mr. Basketball<\/a> by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association.<\/p>\n Collegiate programs from the Big Ten, SEC and ACC\u00a0coveted Knueppel \u2014 including Wisconsin and Marquette<\/a> \u2014 but, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer won out.<\/p>\n Playing in every game his freshman season, Knueppel helped his team to a 35-4 record. He averaged 14.4 points per game, shooting 47.9% from the field, 40.6% from three-point range and 91.4% at the free-throw line.<\/p>\n During the NBA Draft on June 25, Knueppel was selected by\u00a0the Hornets<\/a>\u00a0as the No. 4 pick. Knueppel is the highest pick for a Wisconsin native<\/a> in the modern era.\u00a0<\/p>\n Basketball is in Knueppel’s blood<\/a>. His mom, Chari Nordgaard Knueppel, is the all-time leading scorer at UW-Green Bay. His dad, also Kon, scored more than 2,000 points at Wisconsin Lutheran College. His uncle, Jeff Nordgaard, played at UW-Green Bay and\u00a0appeared in 13 games for the Milwaukee Bucks<\/a>.<\/p>\n And Kon’s four younger brothers seem to be following in the family’s footsteps<\/a>.<\/p>\n More about Charlie Berens<\/p>\n Berens<\/a>, who grew up in Elm Grove and New Berlin, is a comedian, New York Times best-selling author and Emmy Award-winning journalist.<\/p>\n He’s well-known for his hilarious videos about all things life in the Midwest. He also wrote “The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink and Eat … Everything with Ranch,” hosts\u00a0“The Cripescast Podcast”<\/a>\u00a0and has\u00a0several other endeavors<\/a>, including Berens Old Fashioned Brandy.<\/p>\n In the “Green and Gold” movie, which played in theaters earlier this year, Berens\u00a0portrayed a radio host on a Door County station<\/a>.<\/p>\n In a JS interview<\/a> this year, Berens shared that he filmed a standup special.<\/p>\n He has\u00a0a slew of shows<\/a>\u00a0coming up in Wisconsin in September. And, in November, he’ll be hitting the road for\u00a0“The Lost & Found Tour.”<\/a>\u00a0More information, including dates and locations can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n