Kon Knueppel entered the NBA with a reputation as one of the safest picks in the 2025 draft. Less than a full season later, the Charlotte Hornets rookie is doing something far more significant.
Knueppel is not just leading the Rookie of the Year race. His historic shooting season has helped fuel one of the most dramatic offensive turnarounds in the NBA.
Kon Knueppel’s rookie season is already historic
Through March 12, Knueppel has appeared in 66 games and is averaging 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He is shooting 48.9 percent from the field, 44.0 percent from three, and 87.4 percent from the free-throw line.
The rookie has already made 233 three-pointers this season while attempting 8.0 threes per game and posting a 65.0 percent true shooting percentage.
His shooting pace has produced several NBA records. Knueppel became the fastest player in league history to reach 50 made threes in 15 games, 100 threes in 29 games and 200 threes in 58 games.
He also broke the NBA rookie single-season record for made threes when he passed Keegan Murray’s mark of 206 in just 59 games.
Charlotte’s offense has taken off since the new year
Knueppel’s breakout has coincided with a surge for the Hornets. Since January 1, Charlotte has gone 21-10 and produced the most efficient offense in the NBA during that stretch.
The Hornets have posted a 122.0 offensive rating and a +12.0 net rating while shooting 39.3 percent from three-point range.
The improvement is even more striking when looking at the team’s starting lineup.
The Hornets’ starting five has become one of the NBA’s best
The lineup of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabaté has been one of the most dominant groups in the league.
That unit holds a 20-2 record with a +27.9 net rating across 281 minutes on the floor. It has produced a 138.1 offensive rating while shooting 45.8 percent from three.
Much of the success comes from how Knueppel fits alongside Ball. With Ball on the court, Knueppel is shooting 51.3 percent from three and posting a 70.2 percent true shooting percentage.
Without Ball, his three-point percentage drops to 36.3 percent, and his true shooting falls to 53.6 percent.
Why teammates believe Knueppel leads the Rookie of the Year race
Knueppel has been at the top of the NBA Rookie Ladder for multiple weeks, and his teammates believe the race is not particularly close.
Brandon Miller recently explained that Knueppel’s mindset separates him from other rookies. Miller said the rookie consistently makes winning plays and approaches the game with a mentality that lifts the entire team.
The comparison with Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg remains one of the biggest storylines of the class. Flagg entered the season as the favorite because of his defensive impact and long-term upside.
Knueppel’s case is built on something different. His historic shooting, elite efficiency, and immediate impact on a winning offense have made him the most productive rookie in the league this season.
Charlotte may have found a cornerstone
The Hornets drafted Knueppel fourth overall in 2025, hoping he would become a reliable scorer and shooter.
Instead, they may have found something more valuable. Knueppel’s rookie season is already rewriting the record books and helping power one of the NBA’s most explosive offenses.
If Charlotte’s surge continues into the postseason race, his Rookie of the Year campaign could become one of the most impactful rookie seasons the franchise has ever seen.
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