Rookie Wing Could be Vital to Charlotte Hornets’ Success

The Charlotte Hornets have occupied the bottom of the NBA for years now.

The last time the team eclipsed 40-plus wins was 2021-22 in LaMelo Ball’s second season, and before that star guard Kemba Walker was the team’s leading scorer back in 2015. 

For the last three seasons, the Hornets have hovered around the 20-win mark, winning 27 games in 2022, 21 in 2023 and just 19 last season.

Despite their lack of success in the last handful of years, it’s only a matter of time until they accrue enough talent to surge in the Eastern Conference. They’ve been able to acquire Ball, Brandon Miller, Tidjane Salaun and Kon Knueppel, and they might not need much more to finally improve their standing.

Ball and Miller will likely continue to be the focal points moving forward, with the former having already earned an All-Star bid previously, and Miller have the capability with versatility on the wing. Salaun is a project the team hopes will come around in the next few seasons, blossoming into a looming forward that can impact the game on both ends.

Knueppel — the team’s recent pick at the 2025 draft — is one of the team’s more interesting pieces, and could very well directly affect their success moving forward. Even as early as next season.

At 6-foot-5, Knueppel is a big-bodied wing who starred for a great Duke team, averaging 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 41% from beyond the arc. He’s an offensive-minded player — slashing, shooting and facilitating with great feel for the game — though his defense is stingier than it looks. He'll likely slot in between Ball and Miller in the starting five.