Kon Knueppel says Charlotte wants more ball-handling and secondary playmaking from him as the Hornets reshape their offense after trading LaMelo Ball.
The Charlotte Hornets want Kon Knueppel creating offense for others this season. He said so at media day Monday, three months after the team traded LaMelo Ball.
Ball and Josh Green went to the Minnesota Timberwolves on June 25, in a deal the teams completed the following month. Charlotte got back Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps, and three second-round picks.
In 303 games for the Hornets, Ball averaged 20.8 points and 7.3 assists. He played 72 games last season, his last in Charlotte. He was the 2020-21 Rookie of the Year and made the All-Star team in 2022.
On the Milwaukee Uncut podcast in July, Knueppel said the trade was a shock.
Knueppel Expects More Ball-Handling Responsibility
Knueppel said Charlotte still wants to play with the pace it used last season, but his role will include more creation and secondary playmaking.
"I think a lot of ball handling, a lot of secondary playmaking out of ball screens," Knueppel said. "Those things are going to be really important for our team. We need guys that can create offense for others. I think we've got a lot of guys that can do that and pitch into that, but that's definitely an area of growth and is a focus both for [me] but also from the team. They want me to do that."
"I'm looking forward to the challenge," Knueppel continued. "It's going to be tough growing into that role. I've done it before in my career. And so I'll be able to take the hits as they come but also get better at it and grow throughout the season."
At Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, he averaged 19.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists as a junior. He was Wisconsin's Mr. Basketball as a senior in 2024.
At Duke, next to Cooper Flagg, Knueppel played all 39 games in 2024-25 and averaged 14.4 points. He was named MVP of the ACC Tournament and played 38 minutes in the Final Four loss to Houston.
Knueppel Already Showed Playmaking as a Rookie
As a rookie, he finished with 274 assists and 161 turnovers across 81 games, averages of 3.4 and 2.0.
Bleacher Report noted in February that many of his 3-point looks came while he spaced the floor for Ball and Brandon Miller, whose 20.2 points per game led the Hornets.
Knueppel's eight assists on Dec. 31 against the Golden State Warriors came in his first game back from a sprained ankle.
Coby White Takes Over at Point Guard
Coby White takes over for Ball at point guard, the Charlotte Observer reported Friday.
The Hornets acquired White from the Chicago Bulls in February, and he played 21 games for Charlotte after the trade. He averaged 17.4 points last season between the two teams and re-signed in July for three years and $74 million.
Two more ballhandlers arrived this summer. Dennis Schröder joined the backcourt, and Grayson Allen came from the Phoenix Suns after averaging a career-high 3.8 assists last season. Reid, the frontcourt piece of the Ball deal, averaged 2.2 assists for Minnesota.
Knueppel Will Miss Preseason With Hamstring Injury
Knueppel is entering the second year of his rookie-scale contract. He will not play in the preseason because of a left hamstring injury.
The Hornets plan to re-evaluate him during the regular season's first week, which begins Oct. 21 at Brooklyn.
