R-E-L-A-X: Kon Knueppel silences doubts with impressive Summer League performance

Summer League is simultaneously one of the NBA’s most entertaining and most exhausting products. 

On one hand, watching young players and journeymen hoop to prove their worth to an NBA or overseas franchise is a joy, knowing that each bucket, rebound, or defensive stop, is a step towards securing their long-term future. These games do matter, contrary to popular belief.

On the other, overreactions seep into the discourse, as hot takes become the most valuable currency in the Vegas economy, a frustrating reality when talking about basketball this time of year. 

In the case of the Charlotte Hornets, said overreactions have dominated the conversation around controversial number four overall pick Kon Knueppel. 

Knueppel, a 6’6” swingman out of Duke University, put up a meager statistical output in Charlotte’s Summer League opener against Utah. His final line: five points, one rebound, and four assists on 1/8 from the field, was ripe for nitpicking. 

Kon couldn’t buy a jumper. He missed his free throws. He looked overmatched. Utah sped up the normally metronomic hooper. It was a tough debut for Knueppel, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Kon quelled some of those concerns in his second go around.

On Monday night, in a win over Dallas’ Cooper Flagg-less Summer League squad, Knueppel’s two-way skillset shined brighter than a Vegas marquee. 

On defense, Knueppel used his stocky frame to wall up ball handlers and force passes and contested shots. When he got beat off the dribble, he used Spidey-like spatial awareness and took acute angles to cut off the ball handler on their way to the basket and impact shots on their way up. Kon's defense was legitimately impressive tonight in the desert.

He may never be a plus defender, but he can be a fine enough defender to stay on the floor in high-leverage moments. 

On offense, Knueppel flashed the whole package. 

He was a walking paint touch, finding shots for himself and his teammates off the dribble. Knueppel failed to put up gaudy assist numbers in the win, but he never looked sped up. When he picked up his dribble, Kon calmly surveyed the floor, kept his pivot foot, and dished the ball to a spotted up or hard-cutting teammate.