Bobby Portis Reveals The NBA Rookie That Has Impressed Him The Most: "He Wows You On The Court"

On the court, Bobby Portis does not take it easy on any of his opponents. But, when he’s not suiting up for the Milwaukee Bucks, the 11-year NBA veteran certainly knows how to show appreciation for young, up-and-coming talents.

In an appearance on FanDuel’s “Run It Back,” Portis was asked by co-host Lou Williams to identify the 2025–26 rookie who has impressed him the most. Though Portis recognized that there was an easy answer at hand, he went another route with his response.

“It’s kinda easy to always say Cooper Flagg, but in my opinion…Kon Knueppel, man,” Portis said. “He wows you on the court.”

Knueppel, a Duke one-and-done just like his college teammate Flagg, has certainly been making waves amidst the Charlotte Hornets’ woes this season. Fourteen games into the 2025–26 campaign, Knueppel is third on the team in scoring (17.6 points per game), fourth in three-point shooting (40.2% in 14 games played), and fifth in rebounding (6.0 boards per outing).

“Sometimes, when guys get the ball, they just drive and kick it. He gets back to the three-point line and makes himself available for open shots,” Portis said of the Hornets rookie.

Portis has firsthand knowledge of Knueppel, as the Bucks took on the Hornets in a home-and-away series last week. The first time they shared the court, Charlotte came out victorious with a 111–110 win. Knueppel had 16 points on 37.5% shooting from beyond the arc while Portis contributed 14 points and eight boards off the bench for a Bucks squad missing Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Two days later, the Greek Freak returned to help Milwaukee exact revenge. In the Bucks’ 147–13 overtime win, Portis had 12 points and four rebounds while Knueppel had a scintillating 32-point performance, making 12 of his 20 field goal attempts.

Clearly, Portis knows enough to respect Knueppel’s performance on the court. And there’s one more reason why he holds the star rookie in high regard.

“He’s from Milwaukee, too,” Portis added with a smile. “Gotta show him some love.”

The Bucks will meet the Hornets two more times this season. Portis might find it within himself to dap up Knueppel before the game, but once the buzzer sounds, the rookie sensation will run into veteran fierceness.