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Kon Knueppel Sends Clear Message to NBA Teams Before Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated May 19, 2025 3:37 PM ET

Kon Knueppel's name continues to surface as a top prospect in next month’s NBA draft. During a standout freshman season at Duke, Knueppel teamed up with fellow phenom Cooper Flagg and head coach Jon Scheyer to lead the Blue Devils to the NCAA Tournament Final Four.

Though Duke fell to the Houston Cougars in San Antonio, it was still a season to remember. The Blue Devils secured both the ACC regular season and tournament titles, cementing their status as one of the country’s top programs. Now, Knueppel is setting his sights on the next chapter: the NBA.

At the recent Priority Sports pro day, Knueppel turned heads with an impressive workout.

Jonathan Givony of ESPN and DraftExpress offered high praise for Knueppel’s performance. He also spoke with the former Duke guard about what NBA teams can expect if they select him.

Duke's Kon Knueppel made, as you might expect, a lot of shots at the Priority Sports pro day. Bunch of fun pick and roll, off screen and pullup actions showing off his movement shooting, pristine footwork and body control. pic.twitter.com/NyUExlHJg4
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 19, 2025

“I think somebody who's just really competitive and wants to win. I think that's most important,” Knueppel said. “I think we saw that at Duke last year, and that's what I want to do at the next level as well.”

When reflecting on his time at Duke, Knueppel had nothing but positive things to say.

“I just wanted to go in there and contribute," he said. "I'm glad I chose Duke. It turned out pretty nicely for me.”

Knueppel played all 39 games during his lone season in Durham, averaging 14.4 points and 30.5 minutes per game. The sharp-shooter from Milwaukee was particularly lethal at the free-throw line, connecting on 91.4 percent of his attempts.

His standout performance in the NCAA Tournament came during the Elite Eight, when he scored 21 points in 35 minutes to help Duke dominate Alabama, 86–65.

Knueppel’s combination of size, shooting and competitive fire has made him a hot name in NBA front offices. As draft day approaches, his stock continues to rise.

The NBA draft begins at 8 p.m. ET June 25 and will be televised on ABC and ESPN.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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