Jeff Teague Makes Massive Statement About Potential ROTY Kon Knueppel

Every single NBA season, one of the biggest league wide stories is the Rookie of the Year race, and coming into 2025/26, many expected No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg to run away with the award. As of right now, he's got the best numbers, but No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel has been starring in Charlotte, and with the team in a play-in spot behind a historic campaign, many have him favored to win the award right now.

With a lethal three-ball, Knueppel is averaging 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game, and now, he represents the most important piece of Charlotte's future. That's led to plenty of talk about how good Knueppel can be in the future, and according to former NBA star turned podcaster Jeff Teague, he's already tops in the league in one particular category.

“Kon Knueppel is arguably the best White American Basketball player in the league. I would take him over Austin Reaves. Cooper Flagg is good but he’s not like this.”

In Teague's opinion, Knueppel is already the best white American player in the league, naming the Hornets rookie as better than both Flagg and Austin Reaves already, despite their numbers both being better.

Ultimately, only time will tell just how good Knueppel can be over a long period in the league, but as of right now, he's got proven NBA veterans setting the bar very, very high for the potential Rookie of the Year.