Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

'Nasty Work' - NBA Facing Backlash Over Kon Knueppel Decision After Summer League

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Jul 22, 2025 6:12 PM ET

The Charlotte Hornets have not experienced much championship success since joining the NBA in 1988. However, that has recently changed. Kind of.

The Hornets, led by 2025 No. 4 overall pick Kon Knueppel, were able to secure their first Summer League championship after defeating the Sacramento Kings 83-78 on Sunday. Charlotte was the only team to finish the Summer League undefeated at 6-0.

Knueppel looked as advertised through five games. The former Duke Blue Devils star averaged 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He even had the third-best plus/minus overall with a plus-16 and won the championship MVP.

Even with his solid play and a championship, the NBA elected to leave Knueppel off the All-Summer League first team, opting instead to place him on the second team. The first team included:

Nique Clifford (Kings)
Kyle Filipowski (Utah Jazz)
David Jones Garcia (San Antonio Spurs)
Jordan Miller (Los Angeles Clippers)
Terrence Shannon Jr. (Minnesota Timberwolves)

The #NBA2KSummerLeague First Team!

Nique Clifford
Kyle Filipowski
David Jones Garcia
Jordan Miller
Terrence Shannon Jr. pic.twitter.com/Ub3T59B8gO
— NBA (@NBA) July 22, 2025

Despite the performances from each of the first team members, NBA fans were not happy with Knueppel's exclusion, taking to social media to leave their thoughts.

"No @Kon2Knueppel is nasty work," one fan claimed.

"Kon is the definition of turning your haters into motivators. He’s forever getting robbed of awards," added another.

"We got robbed of first team but its coo," wrote a third.

"Nique Crawford did nothing in semis or final. Kon was MVP and lead +/- for players who played 3 or more games," posted a fourth.

"Kon Knueppel? KJ Simpson? We beat 3 of these guys lol ok man," questioned a fifth.

"Kon???" commented a sixth.

Along with Knueppel, the Hornets' No. 42 pick from last year, KJ Simpson, was also named to the Summer League second team. Joining them are the Pistons' Ron Holland III, the Kings' Isaac Jones and the Thunder's Ajay Mitchell

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

More must-reads: