<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-kon-knueppel-potluck-claim-charlotte-136-point-explosion');   ga('set', 'title', 'Hornets’ Kon Knueppel drops ‘potluck’ claim after Charlotte’s 136-point explosion');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/LaMelo-Ball-goes-for-a-layup.jpg"><figcaption>© Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Hornets’ Kon Knueppel drops ‘potluck’ claim after Charlotte’s 136-point explosion</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-23T11:22:01-07:00">October 23rd, 11:22am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-23T11:22:01-07:00">October 23rd, 11:22am</time><address><a>RB Hayek</a>RB Hayek has been writing about sports for over a decade and is currently a member of ClutchPoints' editorial team after primarily focusing on betting content. In addition, he is also a published author of thriller novels, available on Amazon.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Charlotte Hornets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It was an explosive start to the season, as the Charlotte Hornets’ offense went off in a 136-117 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Amazingly, all <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-did-charlotte-strike-gold-1-2-rookie-punch">five starters for Charlotte hit double digits</a>, while four bench players also had 10 or more points in the Hornets’ season opener. The Hornets’ Kon Knueppel <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1981397708268077473" rel="noopener">described the scoring,</a> detailing how it all came together.</p><p>“It was kind of like a potluck tonight,” Knueppel told reporters. “Everybody was eating… that’s fun basketball, and that’s how it’s supposed to be played. So, hopefully, we can keep that going.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/charlotte-hornets/charlotte-hornets-2025-26-season-predictions-nba-schedule-release">Expectations for the Hornets were low</a> before the season opener, as many analysts believe they will likely finish at the bottom of the standings. Yet, they displayed something special in a dominating victory over the Nets, giving their fans something to celebrate. The Hornets also <a href="https://x.com/sam_perley/status/1981172764892446773" rel="noopener">set a franchise record</a> for most points in a season-opening game, per Sam Perley of Hornets.com.</p><p>Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 25 points while shooting 8 for 19. Likewise, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-why-lamelo-ball-is-in-perfect-position-for-massive-season">LaMelo Ball began his season strong</a> with 20 points and eight assists. Miles Bridges added 18 points and 11 rebounds. However, it was the play of rookie <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-player-who-shock-world-breakout-2025-26-season">Knueppel that started his career on a good note</a>, tallying 11 points while shooting 4 for 6, including 3 for 4 from the three-point line. Fellow rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner had a double-double in his NBA regular-season debut, adding 10 points and 11 rebounds.</p><p>Collin Sexton led the bench with 15 points while shooting 4 for 9, while Moussa Diabate added 13 points while shooting 5 for 7. Tre Mann had 12, and Tidjane Salaun finished with 10 points.</p><p>Getting scoring from everyone played a major role in helping the team win the Hornets opener. Now, they hope to take the next step and continue developing as a team while improving their mark in the standings. Not only did the Hornets shoot the ball well, but they also won the board battle 50-38, which was a significant reason for the blowout win.</p><p>With the Hornets’ opener in the rearview mirror, the focus is on what they can do next. The Hornets will now travel to the City of Brotherly Love to face off against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Hornets’ Kon Knueppel drops ‘potluck’ claim after Charlotte’s 136-point explosion

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/dallas-mavericks/mavericks-news-cooper-flagg-kon-knueppel-duke-teammates');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg drops ‘competition’ truth bomb on facing Kon Knueppel, ex-Duke teammates');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Cooper-Flagg-dribbles-the-ball-against-Hornets.jpg"><figcaption>Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg drops ‘competition’ truth bomb on facing Kon Knueppel, ex-Duke teammates</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-11T20:47:38-07:00">October 11th, 8:47pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-11T20:47:38-07:00">October 11th, 8:47pm</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Dallas Mavericks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks were defeated by the Charlotte Hornets in a preseason game on Saturday night, losing 120-116. However, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/dallas-mavericks/mavericks-news-dallas-officially-selects-cooper-flagg-2025-nba-draft">2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg</a> played well, especially in the first half. He ended up playing into the third quarter before his night came to an end, as he finished the contest with 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals. One of the storylines heading into the game was that Flagg would be playing against some of his former Duke teammates — such as Kon Knueppel. Flagg <a href="https://x.com/JoeyMistretta_/status/1977215841285411143" rel="noopener">addressed playing his ex-teammates</a> after the game.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Cooper Flagg on playing against his former college teammates, such as Kon Knueppel <a href="https://t.co/JpH0lrW8lp">pic.twitter.com/JpH0lrW8lp</a></p><p>— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeyMistretta_/status/1977215841285411143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“It was cool, having three former teammates on the same team, being able to play against them at this level is pretty cool,” Flagg told reporters. “I just feel blessed to have this opportunity to be able to play against them. It was pretty cool.”</p><p>Did playing against them give Flagg any extra motivation?</p><p>“Not really, but it is always nice to have that extra little bit of competition,” Flagg said.</p><p>Flagg, as mentioned, was selected first overall in the draft. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/charlotte-hornets/charlotte-hornets-kon-knueppel-concern-2025-nba-summer-league">Knueppel would be selected three picks later</a> at No. 4 overall.</p><p>“It’s pretty cool, you know… number four pick is a big deal,” Flagg said of Knueppel. “Just being happy for him. That’s somebody that’s gonna be a friend of mine for life. I’m just happy for him. I think he’s in a great situation and a great spot. Just so happy for him moving forward with the opportunity that he has.”</p><p>Cooper Flagg and the Mavs’ next preseason game is scheduled for Monday night in Utah against the Jazz. Dallas will then finish the preseason against the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas on Wednesday before their regular season opener in Dallas against the San Antonio Spurs on October 22.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg drops ‘competition’ truth bomb on facing Kon Knueppel, ex-Duke teammates

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/charlotte-hornets/charlotte-hornets-kon-knueppel-concern-2025-nba-summer-league');   ga('set', 'title', 'Charlotte Hornets’ biggest Kon Knueppel concern despite winning NBA Summer League MVP');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Kon-Knueppel.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Charlotte Hornets’ biggest Kon Knueppel concern despite winning NBA Summer League MVP</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-23T09:43:14-07:00">July 23rd, 9:43am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-23T09:43:14-07:00">July 23rd, 9:43am</time><address><a>Rohan Brahmbhatt</a>Rohan Brahmbhatt is an adventure-driven sports writer, passionate footballer, mountaineer, and photojournalist. Rohan blends firsthand experience with storytelling—capturing the intensity of sport and the thrill of exploration. Whether on the field, a mountain trail, or behind the lens, he brings authentic, high-energy narratives that connect readers to the heart of the action.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Charlotte Hornets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Charlotte Hornets entered the 2025 NBA offseason with one clear goal — to turn the page. After years of mediocrity, mismanagement, and mounting losses, the Hornets needed a spark. That <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/hornets-news-behind-kon-knueppel-charlotte-is-on-the-path-to-establishing-winning-culture">spark may have arrived in the form of Kon Knueppel</a>, the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, who just capped off a sensational Summer League campaign by leading the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/charlotte-hornets/hornets-news-summer-league-championship-win-embarrassing-franchise-curse">Hornets to their first-ever championship</a> of any kind, a title run that ended with a thrilling 83-78 victory over the Sacramento Kings in Las Vegas.</p><p>Despite the optimism, however, the Hornets must proceed with caution. Winning the Summer League is no guarantee of regular-season success, and Knueppel, while promising, still comes with critical development questions the franchise will need to address before fully counting on him to be a foundational piece.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Charlotte Hornets are <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA2KSummerLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBA2KSummerLeague</a> Champions!</p><p>Undefeated in Vegas 🏆 <a href="https://t.co/rKg2bYkGUm">pic.twitter.com/rKg2bYkGUm</a></p><p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1947160357937574228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>In five appearances, Knueppel averaged 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, while shooting 40.6% from the field and 34.3% from deep. But beyond the box score, it was his commitment that turned heads. While other top lottery picks were benched or load-managed, Knueppel played through pain and pressure, viewing every Summer League minute as a chance to set a new tone in Charlotte.</p><p>Knueppel, the smooth-shooting wing out of Duke, was everything Charlotte hoped for when they selected him: tough, competitive, and hungry to win. He scored a team-high 21 points in the championship game, earning Summer League Finals MVP honors, <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/nba-2k26-all-summer-league-teams-announced" rel="noopener">NBA 2K26 All-Summer League Second Team</a>, and did so despite playing through a painful eye injury that required five stitches. For a franchise with a tortured history, Knueppel’s grit was a breath of fresh air.</p><h2><b>Hornets Summer League glory: Kon Knueppel shines, but concerns remain</b></h2><p>Yet, despite the MVP award, there’s a lingering question hovering around Knueppel: Can he defend at an NBA level?</p><p>Knueppel’s effort is unquestioned, but his lateral quickness, closeouts, and on-ball defense showed signs of concern. At times, he was beaten off the dribble by quicker wings or got caught navigating screens. His awareness is high, but the foot speed isn’t elite, and in the modern NBA, where wings are often the most dynamic players on the floor, that’s a red flag.</p><p>Even <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/exclusive-dylan-harper-vj-edgecombe-kon-knueppel-nba-summer-league">Knueppel himself acknowledged the gap</a>: “Going from college to the NBA, the one area I’ve worked on a lot is spacing, especially defensively. These are elite players, and you have to be locked in with your positioning at all times,” he said.</p><p>In college, Knueppel could get by with positioning and effort. In the NBA, he’ll be guarding All-Stars and elite shot creators nightly. That adjustment may take time, and without significant improvement, opposing offenses could target him in pick-and-rolls and iso sets.</p><h2><b>Knueppel’s Summer League: Toughness, versatility, and willingness</b></h2><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">KON KNUEPPEL CLUTCH 3-POINTER TO GO UP 4 🔥</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/TomerAzarly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TomerAzarly</a>) <a href="https://t.co/Eeb8TucO9M">pic.twitter.com/Eeb8TucO9M</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1947144843823612401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Knueppel’s Summer League journey was about more than stats; it was about culture-setting. In a league where many young stars opt to sit out games, Knueppel actively requested to play every game, even after suffering a gash above his eye during the semifinals. That decision alone endeared him to Charlotte fans and coaches.</p><p>While his shooting numbers were a concern (8-of-21 FG and 4-of-11 3PT in the final), his shot-making under pressure, quick release, and size at 6-foot-6 showed why scouts were so high on him during the draft process. He demonstrated a knack for secondary playmaking, finding cutters and creating space with off-ball movement. His ability to shift between small forward and shooting guard provided lineup flexibility that the Hornets desperately lacked last season.</p><p>Knueppel was also praised for his basketball IQ, stemming from his time at Duke under Jon Scheyer. His decision-making in late-game moments, particularly in the title match against Sacramento, was impressive for a rookie.</p><h2><b>How the Hornets can mitigate this</b></h2><p>The Hornets are aware of these challenges, and their coaching staff has already begun emphasizing strength training and footwork drills for the rookie. His frame is solid, and if his conditioning and agility catch up, Knueppel could develop into at least an average NBA defender, especially in team schemes that mask individual flaws.</p><p>With LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller locked in as the top two scoring options, Knueppel doesn’t need to be a star right away. Instead, the Hornets are hoping he becomes an elite complementary piece: someone who spaces the floor, competes on defense, and plays winning basketball.</p><p>That said, if his defense becomes a liability, it will be hard to keep him on the court in crucial moments. The Hornets’ front office knows how fragile a rebuild can be. They’ve watched previous lottery picks flame out. They can’t afford to make that mistake again.</p><h2><b>What’s next for Hornets and Kon Knueppel</b></h2><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hornets rising star Kon Knueppel with his Summer League Championship Game MVP and ring 🏆💍</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/TomerAzarly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TomerAzarly</a>) <a href="https://t.co/1Y5CGYYNjz">pic.twitter.com/1Y5CGYYNjz</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1947157618578866212?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The Hornets are entering a pivotal season. With LaMelo Ball returning from injury and Brandon Miller taking a leap, Charlotte needs production from its role players, Knueppel chief among them. His Summer League heroics gave fans hope, but the real test begins in training camp.</p><p>If he continues to bring the same toughness, humility, and willingness to learn, Knueppel may very well become the culture-changer Charlotte’s been searching for. But until his defense catches up to his offensive polish, there will be concerns about just how high his ceiling truly is.</p><p>The MVP is real. The heart is undeniable. But the Hornets know better than most, one good summer doesn’t make a savior.</p><p>Kon Knueppel, Liam McNeeley, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Sion James all resemble the character Lee wants on his team, and all four rookies put together solid performances.</p><p>Although none of these four players are freak athletes or star-like talents, they all fit the mold of being dependable, reliable options for the Hornets to begin setting a new standard in Charlotte.</p><p>This should be the main takeaway of why the Hornets are the ultimate winners from the Summer League.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Charlotte Hornets’ biggest Kon Knueppel concern despite winning NBA Summer League MVP

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/hornets-news-behind-kon-knueppel-charlotte-is-on-the-path-to-establishing-winning-culture');   ga('set', 'title', 'Behind Kon Knueppel, Hornets on path to establishing winning culture');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Kon-Knueppel-Brandon-Miller-Charles-Lee-Charlotte-Hornets.jpg"><figcaption>CP</figcaption></figure><h1>Behind Kon Knueppel, Hornets on path to establishing winning culture</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-22T18:01:00-07:00">July 22nd, 6:01pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-23T13:24:24-07:00">July 23rd, 1:24pm</time><address><a>Tomer Azarly</a>Tomer Azarly is in his ninth season as the LA Clippers beat writer and NBA reporter for ClutchPoints. From the Lob City era to the Kawhi Leonard-James Harden era, he brings you everything you need to know about the Clippers as well as coast-to-coast coverage of the NBA.In his free time, Tomer likes to play basketball, video games, and draw.You can follow his Twitter and Instagram for all Clippers content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Charlotte Hornets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Charlotte Hornets are been stuck in mediocrity for years, but the franchise finally appears to have a clear direction and is hoping to change its ways. Kon Knueppel and KJ Simpson are hoping to be big parts of the changes happening in Charlotte over the next few seasons.</p><p>Behind a strong game from Knueppel, the Hornets won the Summer League Championship for the first time in the franchise’s history.</p><h2><b>Hornets’ Kon Knueppel reacts to winning Summer League MVP</b></h2><p>Kon Knueppel and the Charlotte Hornets brought home the Summer League Championship this past weekend, continuing changes in a positive direction under new General Manager Jeff Peterson and head coach Charles Lee.</p><p>Knueppel finished the title-winning game with a team-high 21 points, five rebounds, and two assists. And that’s with the Hornets’ No. 4 overall pick not even a lock to play a few hours beforehand.</p><p>During the team’s semifinal game on Saturday evening, Kon Knueppel left the game after suffering a laceration above his right eye. He played just 21 minutes, but finished second on the team in points with 17 points to go along with three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. His status for Sunday’s final, however, was up in the air.</p><p>“We had to fight a lot of people to get me on the court today,” Knueppel said after the victory. “You know, it wasn’t necessarily from within the organization, so it was a no-brainer for me. But I just wanted to get out there and help the guys, and get this done tonight.</p><p>“I mean, they just wanted me to know the risk involved. And I thought it was pretty marginal for just a couple stitches. It was a cut. So, it helped. That’s not going to hold me back from playing the championship game.”</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Kon-Knueppel-drives-to-the-basket-durign-the-Charlotte-Hornets-Summer-League-game-against-the-Dallas-Mavericks.jpg"><figcaption>Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Charlotte arrived in Las Vegas on Sunday, July 6th — a full four days before the NBA’s Summer League even tipped off. That allowed the team to practice together, build chemistry, and learn about what NBA life would be like through the league’s “Rookie Transition Program.”</p><p>“It’s been fun. It’s a long time to be here. We were here for two full weeks. But it was a great time. It’s always fun to get out here and play, and I hadn’t played since the Final Four game, so it was really good to get out and compete against high level talent.”</p><p>The Hornets went a perfect 4-0 in regular “season” play, won their semifinal game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 109-80, and advanced to face the Sacramento Kings in the Summer League championship game. The Kings came into Sunday’s final two-time winners of the Summer League title, winning it in its second season in 2014 and in 2021.</p><p>The unique part of the title winning roster is that it featured a number of players who will be on the Hornets roster come training camp in September. Kon Knueppel, KJ Simpson, Liam McNeeley, KJ Simpson, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Tidjane Salaun, Sion James, and Damion Baugh all played for the team in Las Vegas. All of those players are already signed to standard NBA contracts or two-way deals, meaning they’ll have chances to compete for playing time this fall.</p><p>“I’m just really excited to be a part of the team,” Knueppel told ClutchPoints. “You know, I just got here. I can’t wait to get to training camp and, you know, mini camps here in August. It’ll be a lot of fun, you know, get, get with the, with the real guys. And I just can’t wait.</p><p>“It’s a lot of guys that are going to be on the roster, and you always compete to win. So I think building winning habits, even if it is summer league, is very beneficial.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">KON KNUEPPEL CLUTCH 3-POINTER TO GO UP 4 🔥</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/TomerAzarly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TomerAzarly</a>) <a href="https://t.co/Eeb8TucO9M">pic.twitter.com/Eeb8TucO9M</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1947144843823612401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Knueppel was named to the All-Summer League Second Team, averaging 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.4 three-pointers per game. He did struggle with his efficiency, shooting just 40.6 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three, but his process was solid, repeatedly making the right plays for his team.</p><p>KJ Simpson was another standout for the Charlotte Hornets in Summer League. Alongside Knueppel, Simpson was also named to the All-Summer League Second Team. In six appearances, Simpson averaged 16 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.8 three-pointers per game.</p><p>“We just fought,” KJ Simpson said after the victory. “We just found a way. I mean from guys going down to guys stepping up, we had some key guys step up tonight. It started obviously with everyone. Kon set the tone and it just trickled down after that, trickle down effect. We just found a way to win. It wasn’t going to be easy. I mean the Kings they got here for a reason. We just knew that if we stay together though, we’ll come out on top.”</p><p>Simpson had eight points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists in the Summer League Championship game, leading all players in the game in rebounds and second in assists behind teammate Damion Baugh (nine).</p><p>Five players scored in double-figures for Charlotte, who was without Liam McNeeley, Sion James, and Tidjane Salaun.</p><p>“We just want to carry this momentum, honestly,” KJ Simpson explained how this win can catapult his team. “Carry this momentum. Not just for myself individually, but onto the Hornets. We bringing this winning culture that we just established in Summer League. Obviously myself, Tidjane, the other guys, the rookies, we all were able to build a chemistry by coming out here and competing. So now we just can’t wait to add that to the big group with the Hornets. I’m just happy and I think it’s going to carry over really well.”</p><p>No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks, No. 2 pick Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs, No. 6 pick Tre Johnson of the Washington Wizards, played just two games for their teams in Las Vegas. Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe only played one game. Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey didn’t play a single game.</p><p>Kon Knueppel joined New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jeremiah Fears as the only two lottery picks to play every single one of their games at NBA Summer League. Obviously, a lot of those decisions are out of the hands of the players, but Kon Knueppel made it known he wanted to be out there if he was healthy.</p><p>“I think you play. If you like basketball, you play the games. I know some of the [decisions], a lot of it is out of their hands. People make them sit. But I just want to play.”</p><p>They still have a ways to go and are likely a few years away from being legitimate playoff competitors, but for the first time in a long time, the Hornets appear on the rise. Charlotte has added a good mix of youth with veteran experience, they’ve established a strong coaching staff, and they’re set on a path that should see them competing at a high level in due time.</p><p>“I think coach really instilled the ideas of competitiveness, competing all the time, and then being together,” Knueppel added. “So that’s what we did, and every game we played together, and had a good outcome for us.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
15.0	4.7	1.3	-	0.3

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
15.0	4.7	1.3	-	0.3

Kon
Knueppel

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