Jeff Peterson said the Hornets do not yet know whether Kon Knueppel will be ready for the Oct. 21 season opener after a hamstring injury.
Charlotte Hornets president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson said Monday that he does not know whether Kon Knueppel will be available for the Oct. 21 season opener against the Brooklyn Nets, according to Owen Watterson.
Peterson spoke at the team's media day, a day before training camp opens.
Knueppel injured his left hamstring during offseason on-court work. The team announced the injury Friday, along with a right hamstring injury to forward Grant Williams.
Charlotte has already ruled both players out for the entire preseason.
"Both players will miss our preseason games and be re-evaluated during the first week of the regular season," the Hornets said in their announcement.
Charlotte plays four preseason games, starting Oct. 6 against the Nets. Brooklyn is also the opponent Oct. 21, at Barclays Center.
Knueppel Coming Off Record-Setting Rookie Season
Charlotte drafted Knueppel fourth overall out of Duke in 2025. As a rookie, he appeared in 81 of 82 games and started 80. His averages were 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists over 31.5 minutes, and he logged 2,551 minutes in all.
His shooting line was 47.5% from the field, 42.5% from 3-point range, and 86.3% from the free-throw line. Knueppel made 273 3-pointers, or 3.4 per game on 7.9 attempts. He was the first rookie in NBA history to lead the league in total 3-pointers made.
Cooper Flagg, his former Duke teammate, beat him for Rookie of the Year. Knueppel finished second in the voting after winning four Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month awards.
He turned 21 in August.
Grant Williams Will Also Miss Preseason
Williams, a 27-year-old Charlotte native, played 36 games last season. He had been out since hurting his knee against Milwaukee on Nov. 23, 2024, and came back in January. He averaged 7.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in 19.8 minutes and shot 38.8% from 3-point range.
Knueppel was part of the projected starting five in NBA.com's season outlook, alongside Coby White, Brandon Miller, Naz Reid, and Moussa Diabaté. Peterson said Monday that he expects Miller, who had left shoulder surgery May 6, to take part in camp.
Hornets Have Wing Depth Behind Knueppel
Charlotte's other wings include Sion James, who played in all 82 games last season and made 19 starts. The Hornets got Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale from Phoenix for Miles Bridges this summer. Liam McNeeley, the 29th pick in 2025, appeared in 31 games as a rookie.
The Hornets traded LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves this offseason, a deal Knueppel called a shock on the Milwaukee Uncut podcast.
Charlotte went 44-38 last season and lost at Orlando in the play-in tournament. Practices open Tuesday.
Knueppel is not eligible for a rookie-scale extension until next offseason.
