Duke’s Kon Knueppel Shares Emotional Response Amid NBA Draft Move

The video begins with Chari Knueppel, Kon’s mother, calling him “my baby” and greeting him with a heartfelt “hi buddy.” Kon responds with praise, calling his mom “the best” and describing her as “super supportive and a hooper.”

“She supports us in everything we do—school, sports, hoops. She always has advice, whether we want to hear it or not,” he said.

Kon later adds, “I love my mom, and I know that she loves us. Yeah, she’s the best.”

Fighting back tears, Chari replies, “Buddy, you’re the best!”

Chari Knueppel was a standout in her own right. She’s the all-time leading scorer at Wisconsin-Green Bay. Her brother, Jeff Nordgaard, also played at UW-Green Bay and later spent time in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks.

During Duke’s NCAA Tournament run, the 6-foot-7 freshman scored in double figures in four of five games. He was quiet in the opener against Mount St. Mary’s, finishing with six points in 19 minutes. But he bounced back in the championship game against Houston, going 5-of-9 from the field for 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds.

The NBA Draft is scheduled for June 25. The draft lottery, which will determine the selection order, takes place Monday night.