Can This Hornets Draft Pick Become a Rookie of the Year Contender?
The Charlotte Hornets are continuing to lean into a youth-driven rebuild, and their most recent addition could be a key piece to the puzzle. With the fourth-overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Hornets selected Kon Knueppel, a six-foot-seven guard from Duke known for his smooth shooting and high basketball IQ. His consistency and poise on the college level earned him national attention, even if he isn’t the most explosive athlete in the draft class. He’ll make his professional debut tonight at 7 p.m. ET in Las Vegas Summer League action against the Utah Jazz, giving fans their first look at how his game translates to the NBA.
Knueppel’s season at Duke made it clear that he has the tools to be a plug-and-play contributor right away. He shot 47.9% from the field, 40.6% from beyond the arc, and an elite 91.4% from the free throw line, all signs of having a very good shooting stroke and strong fundamentals. In addition to scoring, he grabbed four rebounds and dished out nearly three assists a game, proving he’s more than just a catch-and-shoot threat. While he isn’t the type of player to break down defenders off the dribble, he thrives within the flow of the offense and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. His ability to read defenses and move without the ball should serve him well alongside Hornets’ offensive focal players like LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Miles Bridges.
The fit in Charlotte is a logical one, especially as the Hornets aim to build their roster with more shooters and high-IQ role players. With Ball commanding attention as a playmaker and Miller looking to leap as a scoring wing, Knueppel will look to focus on complementing their skill sets. Players like Josh Green, Grant Williams, and Josh Okogie, assuming the Hornets do not deal any of them in a trade later this summer, will likely compete with him for minutes, but few offer his combination of size and efficiency. He’ll need to prove he can hold his own defensively, especially against quicker wings, but his instincts and effort level give him a chance. If he embraces the Hornets’ system and keeps knocking down shots, he could earn rotation minutes faster than expected.
As for his Rookie of the Year chances, Knueppel enters the season as a bit of a dark horse. He won’t be asked to carry the offensive load like some of the other top picks, which could limit his box score numbers. However, if she shoots efficiently, contributes in multiple areas, and plays winning basketball, voters might take notice. Much will depend on how many minutes he earns and whether the Hornets exceed expectations as a team. A 12-to-14 points per game season on great shooting splits with solid defense could quietly build a compelling case.
All eyes will be on Knueppel tonight as he suits up for his first Summer League game in a Hornets jersey. Fans should watch how he moves off the ball, adapts to NBA spacing, and handles the defensive pressure. He may not wow with highlight plays, but his steadiness and decision-making are already advanced for a rookie. In a league that increasingly values efficiency and versatility, Knueppel brings both. If everything clicks, Charlotte might have found the perfect complement to their young core, and possibly a surprising Rookie of the Year contender in the process.
