Kon Knueppel will be 25 in 2030.
NBA analyst Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report believes Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel will be the 25th-best player in the league in 2030.
Knueppel will be 25 in 2030.
"He's one of the most dangerous shooters in the entire NBA, regardless of age," Bailey wrote. "And that skill alone could carry him to top-30 status. But Knueppel also has some playmaking upside. And while he's not likely to ever compete for All-Defense nods, he has the size and know-how to at least be passable on that end. If he shows even moderate development in some of his lower-tier skills, he could develop into a top-20 player."
Even though Knueppel didn't win the 2026 Rookie of the Year Award, he still had a special season for the Hornets. The swingman averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game and shot 47.5% from the field, 42.5% from 3 and 86.3% from the free-throw line. He led the NBA in 3s.
Knueppel claimed the first four Rookie of the Month awards this season, becoming the first Hornet ever to win the award four times.
Here is what else the rookie accomplished last season, via the Hornets:
- At age 20, became the only player in NBA history age 22 or younger to record 250 3PM in a season against New York (March 26).
- Passed Michael Jordan for the NBA rookie record for most games with 20+ points on 65% true shooting (27) against Miami (March 6) in his then-rookie-leading 14th 25-point game.
- Set an NBA rookie record for 3-pointers made in a season (207) with a career-high-tying and franchise-rookie-record-tying 8 3PM at Indiana (Feb. 26); Knueppel tied his own franchise rookie record.
- Set a new NBA record for most games with 5+ 3PM by a rookie with 14 at Atlanta (Feb. 7).
- Broke the rookie record for most games with 20+ points on 50/40/90 shooting splits (12) against Golden State (Dec. 31), previously set by Stephen Curry.
- Knueppel is one of three rookies in NBA history (min. 25 games played) to average 15 points and 5 rebounds per game and shoot 40% from 3-point range; the other two are Larry Bird and Paul Pierce.
The Hornets have a bright future with Knueppel leading the way.
He's the new face of the franchise in the post-LaMelo Ball era.
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