Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel leads the NBA in 3-pointers.
The Charlotte Hornets selected Kon Knueppel with the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke and have watched their prized pick wow the league.
Knueppel leads the NBA in 3-pointers. The swingman is shooting 43.3 from beyond the arc and credits his teammates for his success.
"Credit to my teammates and coaches for giving me a lot of good opportunities to get good shots," Knueppel said. "Just sticking with it, sticking with my mechanics and confidence in my shot. Just seems like a lot of them are going in right now."
Knueppel has made 193 3-pointers in 55 games. The Milwaukee native is averaging 19.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game and shooting 48.5% from the field and 90.0% from the free-throw line.
The Hornets haven't made the playoffs since 2016. With Knueppel in the fold next to LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges, Charlotte could snap its playoff drought this year.
Knueppel has been stellar on the offensive end for the Hornets, but Charlotte head coach Charles Lee has been impressed with the youngster's defensive play as well.
After all, Knueppel wouldn't be getting heavy minutes if he were getting cooked on defense.
"Defensively, you really see his basketball intelligence," Lee said, via The Athletic. "He understands player tendencies really well. He's really able to understand how to close out: What are the angles I even need to take to closeout on somebody? If I'm shifting on somebody, at what level or depth do I need to be at? If a guy is a lesser shooter. He's a little bit flatter in his shifts; if the guy's a better shooter, he's higher in his shift to not allow a direct pass to that guy."
The Hornets are 26-31 on the season. They are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Knueppel and Dallas Mavericks swingman Cooper Flagg are competing for the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year Award. Knueppel and Flagg were roommates in college, so it's been fun to watch the two friends have incredible rookie seasons thus far.
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