Charlotte Hornets Rookie Kon Knueppel Makes NBA History Through His First 10 Games

In the 2025 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets had the No. 4 overall pick with plenty of options, and to the surprise of many, they opted to select Duke's Kon Knueppel, a player they believed could translate to the NBA immediately. Despite plenty of criticism of the pick, the front office believes he fits perfectly alongside Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, and star point guard LaMelo Ball, and early in his career, he's proving them right.

While the Hornets are 3–7 through their first 10 overall games, Knueppel has been fantastic, averaging 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists on 40% shooting from beyond the arc. Not only that, but the 20-year-old has made NBA history, as he is the first player in league history to tally 150 points and 30 or more three-pointers made in their first 10 games.

The Hornets as a team may be struggling, but individually, this is a team with some very promising young players, and if they can find the right coach and the depth they need around this talent, the future remains incredibly bright for a long-struggling team.

As of right now, it's unclear if Knueppel can continue on this historic start to his career and become a cornerstone piece for the Hornets, but through his first 10 games, things are looking very promising for a team that desperately needs a star. While it was considered a reach by many at the time, the Knueppel pick has turned out well for Charlotte, and with talent at both ends of the floor, optimism is high that he can be a key piece of this turnaround after a historic start to his career.