What do you think about Kon Knueppel?

[zero rings]

Hornets are finally drafting well. Their other rookie forgot his name is also doing great. if only Ball and Miller can stay healthy, then Hornets can actually be a scary team maybe in a year or 2.

Ball and Miller are made out of glass. Hornets need to cut their losses and get rid of them.

They got 3 great rookies in one class (Kon, Kalk, Sion). If they get another one in this year's draft, they'll be set for the future.

[BigGargamel]

Hornets are finally drafting well. Their other rookie forgot his name is also doing great. if only Ball and Miller can stay healthy, then Hornets can actually be a scary team maybe in a year or 2.

Every guy they drafted this year is at least 10 times better than Tidjane Salaun. Already forgot that guy was in the NBA.

[vagelis]

I saw him in preseason the first time and I wrote here that he will make the Hornets a winning team.

He knows basketball, he has high basketball IQ, he is a good shooter, he is a fighter and he is a good athlete (good speed and strength)

[-Luke-]

The Hornets had a great draft this year. Sion James is out there starting the 60/70/90 club. James and Kalkbrenner both 2nd round of the draft, both starting and playing well.

[Biff]

Agreed, Hornets won this draft I think. They're getting great production out of all 3, playing them 25-30 minutes a night. It's unfortunate Melo and Miller can't get healthy, this team could be a very fun upstart in a season or 2. But if they can flip those 2 for some assets, not hard to build a good core around those 3. Knueppel looks like he at least has some star potential. Very poised for a rookie and clearly is a high IQ baller. I was high on him coming out but he's looking even better than I expected.

[FrodoBaggins]

TBH I think he has already blown past what a lot of people projected as his ceiling. The Booker/Klay hybrid comparison makes sense but even low end he seemingly projects as an all star one day. And this guy was READY for the league and he isn't shy and he is full of confidence.

It still doesn't make sense to me how he consistently is able to get to the rim with his athletic limits but man his footwork is next level and it really shows on the defensive end. His defense has been pretty good, especially considering that it was touted as a weakness of his around draft time.

I think it's his robust body and strength, combined with his footwork and decisiveness. 220 lbs @ 6-foot-5 barefoot for a rookie is fairly compact. Low center of gravity, absorbs contact well. Holds his driving lanes.

[UcanUwill]

People hated this pick. KId proving haters wrong.

[FarBeyondDriven]

putting up stats against doormats or in blowout losses due to defensive indifference doesn't really move the needle for me. They're clearly trying to justify where he was drafted by giving him as much usage (40 minutes and took 23 shots) as he can handle which is extremely rare for rookies. When that happens offensive numbers can look solid but it ignores his awful defense and losses. They're 3-6 and their three wins have come against the tanking Wizards, Nets, and injury depleted Pelicans. In this game, the Heat were up 20 after one, don't have Bam or Herro and like teams are known to do, got lazy and took their foot off the pedal. Lazy closeouts, gave up 6 offensive rebounds, wide open shooters and next thing you know Kon scores 14 in the 2nd quarter. He was nowhere to be found when they went down 20 in the first. Then he plays the entire 4th and scores garbage baskets while down big.

[HMFFL]

Kon Knueppel is exactly what Charlotte needed. Coach Charles Lee may want to rely on Kon more as the sesson progresses and not the sub 40% shooters.

[jokeboy86]

I’m sorry every time I see his name it sounds like it should be said in Ken Kaniff’s voice.

[Bucks4005]

I always thought that people ignoring his defense in college was weird. Like, yes, he’s not as quick, but in the half court, being bulkier and stronger helps a lot too and he had that clearly in college? Like, with the amount of switching, the fact he outweighs some SF/PF, especially when he was listed at 220+ in college, always gonna translate well into switching in multiple positions? I mean, the best defenders generally have a lot of strength and he had that. Like, great defenders like Dort, Green carry weight/power on their frames well that they can body up taller guys.

For some reason, people only seem to look at wingspan and footspeed when projecting defenders, which do matter, but ignore guys who make it work with strength and power, which is a physical attribute that people dont seem to account for.

[Chokic]

putting up stats against doormats or in blowout losses due to defensive indifference doesn't really move the needle for me. They're clearly trying to justify where he was drafted by giving him as much usage (40 minutes and took 23 shots) as he can handle which is extremely rare for rookies. When that happens offensive numbers can look solid but it ignores his awful defense and losses. They're 3-6 and their three wins have come against the tanking Wizards, Nets, and injury depleted Pelicans. In this game, the Heat were up 20 after one, don't have Bam or Herro and like teams are known to do, got lazy and took their foot off the pedal. Lazy closeouts, gave up 6 offensive rebounds, wide open shooters and next thing you know Kon scores 14 in the 2nd quarter. He was nowhere to be found when they went down 20 in the first. Then he plays the entire 4th and scores garbage baskets while down big.

I dont follow the hornets but i just looked up his game history. Kon is getting unusually high minutes and field goal attempts for a rookie this early on his career. Granted miller is injured but surprised hes getting this much green light. For reference the jazz have absolutely nothing to lose going into this season except showcase lauri to trade in the future and arent even giving their rookie franchise cornerstone piece anywhere near free reign and fast track development.

[cupcakesnake]

Reminds me a bit of Austin Reaves in that he combines steady strength with skill and shooting.

He's way younger than Reaves is when he entered the league, and further ahead with his skill set.

[Chuck Everett]

putting up stats against doormats or in blowout losses due to defensive indifference doesn't really move the needle for me. They're clearly trying to justify where he was drafted by giving him as much usage (40 minutes and took 23 shots) as he can handle which is extremely rare for rookies. When that happens offensive numbers can look solid but it ignores his awful defense and losses. They're 3-6 and their three wins have come against the tanking Wizards, Nets, and injury depleted Pelicans. In this game, the Heat were up 20 after one, don't have Bam or Herro and like teams are known to do, got lazy and took their foot off the pedal. Lazy closeouts, gave up 6 offensive rebounds, wide open shooters and next thing you know Kon scores 14 in the 2nd quarter. He was nowhere to be found when they went down 20 in the first. Then he plays the entire 4th and scores garbage baskets while down big.

I dont follow the hornets but i just looked up his game history. Kon is getting unusually high minutes and field goal attempts for a rookie this early on his career. Granted miller is injured but surprised hes getting this much green light. For reference the jazz have absolutely nothing to lose going into this season except showcase lauri to trade in the future and arent even giving their rookie franchise cornerstone piece anywhere near free reign and fast track development.

Him being able to even handle this kind of minute load at his current age can only be seen as a positive IMO. Not many 19 year olds can do that.

We'll see where he's at come January. If he's still productive and not hitting a fatigue wall, then that is a great sign.

[jdzimme3]

I would have taken ace Bailey over him.....whoops

[DanEu]

TBH I think he has already blown past what a lot of people projected as his ceiling. The Booker/Klay hybrid comparison makes sense but even low end he seemingly projects as an all star one day. And this guy was READY for the league and he isn't shy and he is full of confidence.

It still doesn't make sense to me how he consistently is able to get to the rim with his athletic limits but man his footwork is next level and it really shows on the defensive end. His defense has been pretty good, especially considering that it was touted as a weakness of his around draft time.

I think it's his robust body and strength, combined with his footwork and decisiveness. 220 lbs @ 6-foot-5 barefoot for a rookie is fairly compact. Low center of gravity, absorbs contact well. Holds his driving lanes.

It's a good body type to have . It's no coincidence that two of the most prolific scorers of the last few years (Harden and Luka) look similar .

[PhilBlackson]

Really impressive how the kid just finds a way to get buckets...and efficiently.

[GeorgeMarcus]

He might be the best player drafted out of Duke this year

I kid, Flagg is a victim of circumstance, but the perceived gap between the 2 is shrinking by the day

Too bad about Ball/Miller because this would be a fun young core to watch evolve together. CHA fans have been through enough

[Zukkoyaki]

A skilled player with brains. Well done Charlotte.

[ThunderBolt]

I see no logical reason the K in Knueppel is silent.