Kon Knueppel names three talented Hornets players he wants to play alongside, explains how he will make impact

Kon Knueppel reveals how he fits in with Hornets

As an off-ball scorer, Knueppel’s fit next to LaMelo Ball is readily apparent. He can space the floor for the slashers and be an elite catch-and-shoot weapon on the perimeter.

In the locker room, Knueppel isn’t the most vocal leader, although he went to a blue-blood college and likely picked up on winning ways with the Blue Devils. After all, he made the Final Four.

Knueppel went from a winning program at Duke to the polar opposite in Charlotte, although he’s more than happy to slot in and make things easier for his teammates.

“I feel good about my ability to complement the players we have on the roster,” he said.

“You know, we have super talented young guys, LaMelo, obviously, and Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller.

“So I’m just going out there and trying to make their lives easy and hopefully get out there and make some shots.”

Knueppel is not ready to put a timeline on the Hornets’ return to contention, although he thinks the blueprint will be laid this summer and fall.

“It’ll be great,” he finished. “I’m really looking forward to getting on the court here for training camp here in the early fall.”

Hornets’ winning timeline is finally revealed

While Knueppel was not eager to give a timeline for contention or when the Hornets will make the playoffs, the time is now, or at least sooner rather than later.

In the East, there aren’t many teams on the rise. The Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks have finished their rebuild, and the Detroit Pistons are on the cusp. If anything, teams like the Cavaliers, Knicks, and Celtics seem poised for a regression.

First, Ball needs to stay healthy. Second, the Hornets’ core simply needs to play together. After years of occupying the bottom of the standings, this season should be the year the Hornets start to figure it all out before putting the pieces together in 2026-27, making their first postseason appearance since 2016, hopefully snapping the longest active playoff drought in the NBA.