Feb 12, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (left) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (right) warm up before the game at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Top NBA Rookie Makes Bold Steph Curry, Klay Thompson Statement

Originally posted on Golden State Warriors on SI
By Liam Willerup | Last updated Jul 19, 2025 12:36 AM ET

The Charlotte Hornets selected Duke wing Kon Knueppel with the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. After shooting just over 40% from three with the Blue Devils during the 2024-25 season, he now heads to Charlotte to join a young core built around LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. He's played just three Summer League games, but is already making noise off the court.

Knueppel had a chance to speak with NBA reporter Taylor Rooks and was asked about one of the NBA's greatest shooters, Klay Thompson. While Thompson recently made headlines for his public relationship with Grammy-winner Megan Thee Stallion, Thompson also has won over the praise of Knueppel, prompting a rather bold and controversial statement.

"Oh, that [Klay Thompson]'s just—the best. Well, I don’t know if I should say this, but I loved when he did the big ball celebration. Tell him that, because that was awesome. That’s what he has—he's got cojones. Also, tell him he’s the best off-ball mover ever. He’s better than Steph [Curry], in my opinion," he told Rooks.

Curry, who's not only seen as the greatest shooter in NBA history, is also viewed by many as the greatest off-ball shooter and mover around screens. Playing alongside guys like Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut in his career, who've set him countless screens to move off-ball, it seems as though Knueppel still sees Thompson as superior in that debate.

The mythical no dip shot from Klay, plus sprinting to his right. This is the absolute hardest type of catch and shoot there is for a righty, and the pinnacle of shooting skill pic.twitter.com/furuTnMOjQ
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) May 5, 2023

While a controversial take to many, the reality is that both Thompson and Curry are elite movers off the ball. Thompson's off-ball movement might be more pronounced given his lack of ball-handling duties, but both players have added countless three-pointers to their all-time totals by running around off-ball. If the Hornets can get a fraction of that from Knueppel, they'll be ecstatic.

This article first appeared on Golden State Warriors on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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