Hornets select Kon Knueppel 4th overall
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The Charlotte Hornets chose Duke guard Kon Knueppel with the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday.
The former five-star recruit spent one season at Duke after being named Wisconsin Mr. Basketball. He seamlessly fit beside top pick Cooper Flagg, helping Duke win the ACC regular season and tourney before making a run to the Final Four.
Knueppel was 21st in the nation in freshman points per game, and only two rookies outscored him while also shooting over 40% from three; both played against low-major competition. Knueppel also made the fifth-most threes in the ACC (84). As a result, he made the All-ACC second team, All-ACC rookie team, and won ACC Tournament MVP.
Bio
Position: Shooting guard
School: Duke
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 219 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-6
Max vertical: No combine measurement
2024-25 stats with Duke
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 47.9 | 40.6 | 91.4 | 4 | 2.7 | 14.4 |
Knueppel is the most accomplished shooting prospect in this draft. He has elite touch and is capable of knocking down shots, either from a standstill or on the move, at an elite clip. What differentiates Knueppel from other snipers is his adept pick-and-roll play. He uses his big body to find space in the mid-range, where he shoots 43.2%, and can throw a variety of passes to the roller, using a combination of fakes to create passing angles.
NBA comparison: Gary Trent Jr. Knueppel will immediately be one of the league's most prolific shooters. He has a similar build to Trent and isn't a particularly twitchy athlete. Despite some of those limitations, he's extremely strong and utilizes his high release to get shots off even when contested. Knueppel isn't the worst help defender, but he can get caught on screens, and quick-twitch athletes will often attack him off the bounce. Ultimately, his shooting and playmaking far outweigh any defensive deficiencies.