IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Nov 4, 2026 2:10 PM
The Charlotte Hornets are last in the NBA in points per game.
NBA analyst Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report says the Charlotte Hornets' biggest problem right now is "shotmaking."
The Hornets are last in the NBA in points per game, pace and offensive rating.
Charlotte traded LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns this offseason, so the team was expected to decline offensively. It also doesn't help that Kon Knueppel hasn't played yet because of a hamstring injury.
The good news is that Knueppel could make his season debut tonight against the Brooklyn Nets.
Even though Knueppel didn't win the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year award, he still had a remarkable season for the Hornets. The sharpshooter averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game and shot 47.5% from the field, 42.5% from beyond the arc and 86.3% from the free-throw line and led the NBA in 3-pointers.
Knueppel claimed the first four Rookie of the Month awards last season, becoming the first Hornet ever to win the award four times.
Here is what else Knueppel 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.
Knueppel, the first rookie to lead the NBA in made 3-pointers (272), has All-Star status written all over him.
It will be fascinating to see how the Hornets look once the Duke product is back.
The Hornets rank dead last in field-goal shooting (40.5 percent) and 29th in three-point percentage (29.6). While they're at least accurate from the free-throw line (81.5 percent, sixth), it's a wasted weapon because they don't earn enough trips there to capitalize on it (30th in attempts).
So yeah, the Hornets really need Knueppel back.
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