Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel and the Value of Feel and Skill
Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets has established himself as one of the NBA's most productive offensive rookies in the league by making use of his feel for the game and adaptable skill.
Kon Knueppel has emerged as one of the most exciting NBA rookie breakout stories over the last week and a half for good reason.
Truthfully, it’s been as exciting of a week for rookies AND sophomores in the league as any. Several players have stepped up on both ends of the floor to help provide meaningful future outlooks for their respective franchise.
However, there’s one lead story that trumps the rest, and it’s currently in Charlotte with a dynamic group of first-year producers who have brought an infectious energy and watchability to a franchise that has gone through several seasons of disappointment.
And while the Hornets won’t be contending near the top of the Eastern Conference any time soon, the team’s rookies are on pace to potentially do something that hasn’t been done in almost 30 years.
So without further ado, let’s discuss the impact that Knueppel and Co. have had on the NBA’s Rookie of the Year race, as well as check in on other top performers across those who are in their first two seasons of their careers!
*All statistics used and referenced are as of 11/16/25 and are courtesy of Basketball-Reference, Cleaning the Glass, Synergy Sports, and Dunks and Threes*
Everyone loves the players who can run faster and jump higher than anyone else in their class.
Let’s not get it twisted. I love watching those players too. And there’s a baseline of athleticism and physical tools that have to be met to get anywhere close to playing in the NBA.
But sometimes, the intersection of skill and feel can outweigh those athletic advantages IF the just discussed baselines are met.
That’s how we get to Kon Knueppel, the 6’5” shooting guard who was taken 4th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Leading up to the draft, there were plenty of questions from scouts about Knueppel’s game and how he would translate to the next level. He’s got decent size for a guard/wing combo, and is built well in terms of strength. But he doesn’t possess excellent length, leaping ability, or end-to-end speed, and his lateral quickness has also been called into question when he had to guard some of the best speedsters on the perimeter at Duke.
These were all valid concerns, as they play a large part in succeeding not just on offense, but on defense. If a team slots a questionable defender into a higher-minutes role, there becomes a great risk as to how much the team can lose those minutes by if the offensive production doesn’t make up for the defensive shortcomings.
Naturally, players like Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and VJ Edgecombe were drafted ahead of Knueppel because they possessed greater physical attributes and skill packages of their own, along with fierce intangibles that would’ve made it difficult to pass on them near the top of the draft. Even the guy who went behind Kon, Ace Bailey, has loads of natural scoring talent at 6’9” that should benefit him over what should be a long career in the NBA.
So how does Knueppel stand out amongst those players, and how is he leading all rookies in points scored up to this point while also keeping an entire NBA team afloat at a respectable level without its two best stars in LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller?
The answer is that Knueppel is firmly at the intersection of skill and feel in all of the best ways.
Knueppel’s game starts first and foremost with, NOT his shooting, but his overall processing speed and abililty to read the game. Every single move Knueppel makes, he’s already a step or two ahead of the defense. His timing on cuts, his movements off the ball, and how he sets himself in motion as soon as he catches the ball all catch defenders off guard and make them slow to react, despite most, if not all, of them having physical advantages over Knueppel.
Whether he’s working off screens to curl down, catch, and attempt a shot OR working his own screen-and-roll game, OR even SETTING the screens for his own teammates, Knueppel is aware of the space he’s able to take or exploit off what he’s about to do, and is so decisive in acting on those reads that he creates natural opportunities within the flow of the offense.
His roll-man attack is what’s getting the most publicity at the current moment, as per Synergy Sports, Knueppel is in the 94th percentile in terms of efficiency within that play type. Defenses never know what he’s going to do, whether it’s slip into the paint for an easy jumper, get all the way to the rim, or pop back out for a wide-open jumper.
Knueppel sets a lot of these screens freelancing within the offense; they aren’t even all designed for him to be involved in the play. Before he makes that move, he knows where the defenders are and how he needs to approach each action. Whether it’s ghosting the screen, popping, rolling, or making another play off a short roll, Knueppel has become one of the best guard screeners within his first few weeks in the league.
And NOW we get to where the shooting ties everything together. His gravity as a shot maker is legitimate, and lures defenders out to cover him. If his opposing player makes a mistake, or sells out too hard on a shot contest, Knueppel has the passing chops and vision to make the next play for someone else and keep the offense in constant motion.
That is Kon’s ultimate superpower. He’s not caught holding onto the ball for too long or getting himself in trouble. Knueppel gets off the ball if he doesn’t have an immediate shot or path to one, and it benefits his teammates greatly. When Knueppel does have the runway to something other than a catch-and-shoot, Knueppel has enough burst to get into the paint, with the patience to match if a larger defender meets him. Kon’s craftiness as a scorer comes back to his two-footed approach, which was well discussed before the 2025 draft. Knueppel uses ball fakes, head fakes, pivots, and step-throughs to get looks to go at the basket. He hasn’t been an elite finisher at the rim this season, but he’s been average, which is good enough when given how incredible of a shooting talent he is.
Between his movement, decision-making, and shooting ability, Knueppel is never left without a role in Charlotte’s offense. He can scale up his usage, as he’s done so with Ball in particular missing time, or scale down into a more complementary role that can still be the tide that lifts his teammates’ boats because of the attention he commands as a shooter. Even if teams load up on Knueppel, he’s aware enough not to force poor shots or errant passes. He’ll keep hold of the ball and make the right decision to give his team a chance at a better look.
Up to this point in the season, the Hornets are +3.8 points per 100 possessions BETTER with him on the floor per Cleaning the Glass. The rookie trio on the Hornets of Kon, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Sion James has a difference of +2.3 points per 100 possessions. That positive impact by a trio of ROOKIES is almost unheard of. Kalkbrenner and James have been excellent within certain areas of their games, but have certainly been helped by the straw that stirs the drink in Knueppel.
No team has had at least three rookies get on All-Rookie teams in the same year since the Cleveland Cavaliers back in the late 90s. What Knueppel and crew are doing rarely happens, be it either the success of that many rookies doesn’t sustain OR teams don’t even choose to roster that many first-year players and actually give them opportunities to share the court with the rest of the veteran talent.
All of this has been possible because Knueppel is confident in his game, clearly studies basketball and his opponents at an extraordinarily high level, AND has the self-awareness to not put himself in harm’s way for the betterment of the team. Consistently, you’ll see Knueppel back off shot attempts or passes that could be there one second but likely wouldn’t be the same the next. Knueppel understands his physical limitations, and is very selective in how he goes about creating offense for himself and others. When he sees a gap, he takes it without hesitation. These traits are critical to high-level success in the NBA.
Put together Knueppel’s offensive repertoire, with his high feel, and ability to withstand defensive pressure to a certain extent because he’s built strong and can withstand contact, and you have a player that is foundationally built on all of the right things.
Can you attack Knueppel and make his life miserable on both ends of the floor? Absolutuely. He’s not a perfect player. You can face guard him to death, mismatch hunt and get him stuck on a 6’10” center, or have him susceptible to a blow-by at the top of the floor by one of the league’s most athletic guards. Knueppel does a great job at NOT getting himself caught in those situations frequently, first and foremost, but he makes up for those shortcomings on the offensive end by just being a basketball cyborg and making the most of the next play.
And that’s why the intersection of SKILL and FEEL can create ceilings higher than what were initially perceived before a draft. I love the concept of a “false ceiling” prospect because it’s a term that can have multiple definitions and be used in different ways. In Kon’s case, his ceiling was pre-conceived as lower than others because he’s not an unreal athlete entering the league able to bend matchups to his will, thanks to dominant force, or pogo-stick leaping ability. But Knueppel operates at his own speed, doesn’t let others put him in a box, and comes out on the other side because of his mind and base skill set more than anything else.
I don’t necessarily believe that shooting is the number one most important thing in the game of basketball. But it is a critical separator to higher-level outcomes (shout out Phil Beckner) and really ties everything about Knueppel together.
If he were not as talented of a shot maker off the bounce, off the catch, or off movement as he’s been up to this point, then he wouldn’t have been in the conversation as high as he was in the draft. But because he has excellent fundamentals in terms of his form, balance, ball handling, and passing vision, Knueppel is exceeding expectations regularly.
My money would still be on Cooper Flagg TODAY to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award. But Knueppel is FIRMLY in the mix as a worthy candidate for the honor, as he has been the NBA’s best rookie up through close to the first full month of the regular season.
The lesson behind Knueppel’s success should be carried forward in future drafts for those who are eager to evaluate prospects. Athleticism is a separator of talent just as shooting touch is. But it can only carry a player so far. Who they are, where they came from, and what their foundation is as a quick processor and learner determine high-level success as much as the other traits we can talk about. And THAT is what Kon has working for him in spades.
*Each week, I’ll be writing about the top rookies that stood out to me through film and statistical study. This is NOT a “Rookie Rank” as that is a separate matter that will be updated at different points throughout the season*
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Week Stats: 3 GP, 19.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2 SPG, 1 BPG, 53.5/26.7/53.3 Shooting Splits
Cooper Flagg wasn’t going to stay down for long.
There are numerous reasons why Flagg hasn’t lived up to initial expectations this season, but the Dallas Mavericks have done a better job over the last week of putting him in a position to succeed rather than asking him to run the entire offense from start to finish.
Flagg is getting to spots inside the arc more frequently, catching, and making a move from there. He’s finding better matchups to exploit, and bruising his way to the basket rather than settling for contested jumpers. And when he has taken threes, they’ve been in rhythm off the catch or in transition.
In terms of his defense, that aspect of Flagg’s game has been evident since tip-off. Flagg rates in the 77th percentile per Synergy in terms of total defense, and 90th percentile in shots defended at the rim. He’s blocked shots, played passing lanes, and has taken on the other team’s best option several times in games against good opponents.
Flagg’s efficiency isn’t where it needs to be, but the signs of him turning a corner as a contender for Rookie of the Year have been evident over the last week, most notably in a close loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in which he went shot-for-shot with Giannis Antetokounmpo down the stretch.
Cooper Flagg is going to be just fine, everyone.
Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans
Week Stats: 3 GP, 15.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 55.3/0.0/71.4 Shooting Splits
Derik Queen continues to impress me as a top performer in this rookie class.
He’s still coming off the bench, but the New Orleans Pelicans are +19 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor per Cleaning the Glass. In terms of usage rate by minutes played, Queen currently rates in the 80+ percentile. What he’s doing as a rookie on both ends of the floor cannot be overlooked.
Queen’s hand-eye coordination and timing/awareness have put him in a position to make plays defensively despite reasonable questions regarding how much of a traditional rim protector he is and can be at the NBA level. His movements and hands have been quick in short bursts, as he’s been able to react, help, and cut off drivers and force deflections.
Offensively, few have been able to figure out Queen’s herky-jerky style of scoring. He gets defenders off balance to step through to the basket or hit jumpers off a fade. Queen’s scoring has been very fun to watch, as his ball handling ties everything together for him to face up and attack opponents.
Overall, Queen has produced in almost every aspect of the game so far besides pure perimeter shooting. Queen hasn’t knocked down threes yet, but that’s a part of his game that’s been a work-in-progress dating back to last season at Maryland.
If he figures that out? Good luck, because Queen has and will continue to be a special player.
Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz
Week Stats: 3 GP, 17.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, 54.3/44.4/71.4 Shooting Splits
Two stints this week put Ace Bailey on the map as far as consideration amongst the best players in the rookie class.
Bailey finally got legitimate minutes for the Utah Jazz after a rough start to the year for multiple reasons. In two games, Bailey put up 20+ points in both, on efficient shooting splits. Bailey didn’t do anything terribly difficult from a shot diet perspective, but everything was clean and in rhythm. He did have a few nice step-back triples to showcase just how lethal of a scorer he can be when he gets it going.
I’ll be watching the other parts of Bailey’s game closely, particularly any playmaking feel and defensive ability. But Bailey’s immediate appeal was always as a spot-up or movement shooter at 6’9” who could get looks off against almost any defender in the league. Having a guy in the corner at his size as the ultimate release valve for a driving guard is a blessing for Utah’s offense.
Bailey will continue to put up points in bunches if given the minutes, and I suspect that will be the case moving forward. Let’s see how quickly Bailey can build out the rest of his game and contend for an All-Rookie selection.
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Charlotte Hornets
Week Stats: 3 GP, 13.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 83.3/0.0/90.0 Shooting Splits
As I mentioned in discussing Kon Knueppel’s game, he hasn’t been the only standout rookie performer on the Charlotte Hornets.
Ryan Kalkbrenner has been one of the best defensive anchors in the entire NBA this season up to this point. He’s SECOND in the league in block rate, and no player in the league has piled up as many steals and blocks as Kalkbrenner other than “The Alien” who is Victor Wembanyama.
Kalkbrenner has not only blocked shots at the basket, but has deterred drivers from even taking attempts in the paint. Kalkbrenner is among the upper echelon of the NBA in terms of opponent shot frequency at the rim per Cleaning the Glass, which makes sense given how imposing a force he is as a 7-footer protecting the basket. Kalkbrenner doesn’t get in foul trouble either, which is crucial for him staying on the floor for the sake of the Hornets.
Offensively, Kalkbrenner hasn’t whipped out the three-point jumper yet, or created anything for his teammates. Everything for him is quick catch-and-finish, and he’s hit over 80% of his shots because of the looks he’s gotten. When he’s caught the ball in a position where the defense has enough time to throw multiple bodies at him, he’s turned it over at a pretty high rate. So there are weaknesses to exploit with Kalkbrenner on that end of the floor. But as a lob threat, guards can throw the ball up for Kalkbrenner where it’s hard for defenses to knock it away, leading to easy dunks and finishes.
Again, Kalkbrenner isn’t doing anything that’s making all of the highlight reels. He’s just been so freaking productive as a rookie big man, it’s hard to NOT appreciate what he’s doing and the impact he’s had on a young team.
Kon Knueppel has been the straw that’s stirred the drink, but Ryan Kalkbrenner has made this team respectable on defense and in the paint.
*Each week, I’ll be writing about the top sophomores that stood out to me through film and statistical study. This is NOT a “Sophomore Rank” as that is a separate matter that will be updated at different points throughout the season*
Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets
Week Stats: 3 GP, 16.7 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 3.3 SPG, 57.6/52.2/0.0 Shooting Splits
Welcome to the party, Reed Sheppard!
It’s been a fantastic last few weeks for Sheppard as an offensive driver for the Houston Rockets. He had a concerning season debut against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but to be entirely honest, who hasn’t struggled facing the defending champs so far?
In terms of what’s changed since then, Sheppard has found ways to get cleaner looks from three and has made them. His passing has been timely, as he’s always possessed good vision as a playmaker.
Perhaps most importantly, he’s at 50% on all two-point shots so far up to this point per Synergy Sports, boosting his overall offensive ranking into the 81st percentile.
Sheppard is picking and choosing all of his spots more carefully, but that can only come from Houston putting the ball in his hands and letting him cook as a point guard, not just a corner shooter.
Reed at this point has a 2.50 AST/TO ratio, has stolen the ball like crazy over the last week or so, and has done his part as a transition threat, pick-and-roll playmaker, and three-level offensive dynamo.
IF Sheppard can keep up this level of play over the rest of the season, he’s going to garner some attention as the NBA’s Most Improved Player (even though that’s not how I agree the award shoud be viewed) given where he was as a rookie last season. Kudos to the Rockets for believing in Sheppard and giving him the keys to operate the offense with the ball in his hands.
Pelle Larsson, Miami Heat
Week Stats: 3 GP, 11.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 47.8/45.5/85.7 Shooting Splits
Every NBA team needs quality role players, but the bar for those guys has never been higher than it is today. Specialists are almost a thing of the past, as everyone has to be able to dribble, pass, shoot, and defend to some degree.
Pelle Larsson had those traits in college at Arizona, yet never quite found a consistent foothold in his production, which led to him falling into the second round on draft night. This year, however, he’s gotten ample opportunity with the Miami Heat and has looked fantastic over the last few weeks.
Before the 2024 draft, I made some comparisons in his game to Christian Braun. Larsson isn’t a takeover offensive player, but he cuts well to the basket, can knock down spot-up jumpers, and is capable of making the next read off a live dribble if his immediate path to a shot is sealed off by the defense.
Larsson has made great decisions for the Heat as a step-in starter, and he has defended his position very well to start the season. Larsson is a tough competitor, and that’s been incredibly evident on tape in Miami. He’s already outperforming his draft slot and looks like a bargain as a rising sophomore in the NBA.
Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder
Week Stats: 4 GP, 16.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.0 SPG, 46.4/37.5/80.0 Shooting Splits
I’m not sure what else I can keep saying about Ajay Mitchell at this point, but it feels criminal not to write any words about him over a two-week span.
That’s because Mitchell has arguably been the best sophomore from the 2024 draft class this season. His efficiency has been maintained despite an elevated role in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s starting lineup due to injuries. Mitchell has thrived playing alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, as he’s made his life easier as a second primary ball handler within the offense.
Mitchell can set the table just like SGA, but has also found his groove as a catch-and-shoot guard, particularly from the corners. Mitchell’s game is so mature for his age. He was a multi-year college vet, but Mitchell is playing like he’s been in the league for 10 seasons, not just two.
There are more words I want to write about Mitchell to break down just how good he’s been, and I’ll save those for another time. But with how rock-steady he’s been on offense, combined with the fact you can’t attack him in a traditional sense defensively, he’s broken out in a way few likely thought possible. Mitchell is OKC’s latest “sleeping giant” in the rotation.
Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
Week Stats: 2 GP, 20.0 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.5 BPG, 54.8/37.5/60.0 Shooting Splits
Have people been paying attention to what Alex Sarr has done up to this point in the season?
Sarr is turning in routine double-doubles for the Washington Wizards, also blocking his fair share of shots and showing off some passing chops in the halfcourt. Sarr’s confidence as a face-up driver, post-up scorer, and jump shooter has been awesome to see, as he’s pulling the right levers at the right time.
To put it simply, Sarr has taken whatever the defense has given him and has converted at an excellent rate. If defenses have given him room to shoot, Sarr has stepped into those looks with zero hesitation. If he’s recognized, he has a mismatch to exploit by driving to the basket, Sarr has made the most of that advantage.
And when Sarr has gone up against some of the better centers in the league, he hasn’t backed down from that challenge and has even gotten the best of some great players in the league.
I do want to monitor his overall shooting efficiency and track how that progresses or falls off over the course of the season. But Sarr’s APPROACH as an offensive player, plus his aggression on the glass and in the paint, have been awesome to see through the first month or so of the regular season.
Daniss Jenkins, Detroit Pistons
Week Stats: 3 GP, 20.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 7.7 APG, 2.3 SPG, 47.7/56.3/100 Shooting Splits
Kudos to one Corey Tulaba here at No Ceilings for believing in Daniss Jenkins ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft.
He wasn’t a priority guard on my board to be drafted, but I had a hunch a smart team would give him a shot as a Two-Way player on that type of deal. So far, that decision has worked wonders for the Detroit Pistons as he’s been on a HEATER stepping into the rotation due to multiple injuries.
Jenkins has shot the ball incredibly well from deep, but what’s stood out to me most has been his fearlessness as a playmaker. Jenkins has attacked gaps with ferocity, and has been creative as a passer to get his teammates open looks out of pick-and-roll sets. His overall poise and understanding of how to operate within ball screens have been a welcome addition for a Pistons team that hasn’t had that same kind of guard coming off the bench to support Cade Cunningham in this era of the team.
I would expect Jenkins to stick around and make a name for himself within the rotation even more than he has up to this point. Everyone will gravitate towards talking about Jenkins’ shooting numbers and scoring output, but guards win jobs in the league because of how they pull the levers and command the offense, NOT just because of how many points they can put on the board. Jenkins was very impressive in that role over this last week, and I’m eager to see if he can keep it up moving forward and hopefully see his contract upgraded in short order.