Kon Knueppel Has Taken Over the Rookie of the Year Race

The former Duke Blue Devil is injecting hope into the veins of Hornets fans and should be the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year when the award is announced in May.

Success on the Court

Knueppel’s scoring game from college has transitioned perfectly to the NBA. Hornets head coach Charles Lee handed Knueppel a starting role and is playing him 33.5 minutes per game. Knueppel has repaid his trust with efficient scoring.

Knueppel leads all NBA rookies in points per game, field goal percentage, and three-pointers made. He is also second in free-throw percentage. When it comes to shooting, there is no better rookie in the NBA right now. Knueppel also knows how to score in a variety of ways other than via the three-pointer.

Aside from his raw numbers, he’s also proven to have that “clutch gene” late in games.

The Hornets seem to have hit the nail on the head with this pick. Knueppel has become an instant contributor to the team. Not only has he been impactful this season, but he’s also emerged as someone the Hornets could build the future around if LaMelo Ball gets traded.

If you’re somehow still not impressed by Knueppel’s scoring ability yet, he is also on track to break the record for a rookie’s true shooting percentage. Magic Johnson currently holds that record at 60%. Knueppel currently has a 61.3% true shooting percentage. Rivaling Johnson’s statistics is as clear a sign of greatness as there is.

Great Hooper, Better Person

Not only does Knueppel exude excellence on the court, but his off-the-court activities reflect his excellent character.

Many rookies find the bright lights of the NBA to be too much in their first year. The constant media attention, or the result of landing their first big-time contract, can get to some rookies’ heads.

Not Knueppel. He’s already taken the role of a leader upon his young shoulders. He personally takes ownership for his performances as well as the team’s. After a loss to the Nets on Dec. 1, he demonstrated incredible accountability for a player his age.

“We’re 6-15… we’re not good enough,” Knueppel said. “We’ve got to be who we are. We’ve got to play hard. We’ve got to compete to win every game we can in this league, and we didn’t do that tonight. That’s truly disappointing.”

That is exactly the kind of mentality and leadership you want from your young star.

During an away game to the Bucks in Knueppel’s home state of Wisconsin, Knueppel and his family hosted the entire team at their home for dinner.

That camaraderie is something Charlotte needs as its young core grows together. For Hornets fans, it was heartwarming to see the Knueppel family’s hospitality, and the bond between the team deepening.

Kon Knueppel has been a bright spark on a mediocre Hornets team, and his performances certainly make him deserving of Rookie of the Year. Bright things are ahead for this young man, and hopefully the Hornets as well.