{"id":508182,"date":"2026-01-11T09:15:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T09:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/508182\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T09:15:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T09:15:13","slug":"hornets-kon-knueppel-headlines-latest-rookie-power-rankings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/508182\/","title":{"rendered":"Hornets\u2019 Kon Knueppel headlines latest rookie power rankings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hornets\u2019 Kon Knueppel headlines latest rookie power rankings<\/a> originally appeared on The Sporting News<\/a>. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Charlotte Hornets<\/a> rookie Kon Knueppel is continuing on an historic rookie campaign<\/a> and is showing no signs of slowing down.<\/p>\n

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In a blowout against the Utah Jazz<\/a> on Saturday, Knueppel posted 12 points, six assists and three steals on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. This outing comes off an 18-point, 8-rebound performance in a loss to Indiana on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Yahoo! Sports\u00a0NBA contributor Steve Jones released an update to his rookie rankings<\/a> for the NBA season and, like many, continues to hold the Hornets<\/a> rookie in high regards. Knueppel ranks second on Jones\u2019 list just behind Dallas Mavericks<\/a> rookie and his for Duke teammate Cooper Flagg.<\/p>\n

MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>Charles Lee gets honest about LaMelo Ball making a rare start on the bench<\/a><\/p>\n

Jones\u2019 analysis on Knueppel<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are only three players in the NBA who have made 130 or more 3s so far,\u201d Jones wrote. \u201cDonovan Mitchell (133), Stephen Curry (132) and Knueppel (130). Speaking of Curry, Knueppel has already broken Curry\u2019s rookie record for the most games with 20-plus points on 50\/40\/90 shooting splits (12).<\/p>\n

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\u201cMake no mistake about it, these 3s are not all of the catch-and-shoot variety. Knueppel understands how to create space for himself, will leverage a shot-fake to get to a side-step, or may just pull up regardless of what the defense is doing. Throw in his consistent willingness to drive, and it starts to sink in how he keeps defenses off-balance \u2014 and why he\u2019s put together such a strong rookie campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n

Knueppel is making this season\u2019s Rookie of the Year race less of a sure thing than many had it going in. Should he continue this impactful stretch, the Charlotte\u2019s sharpshooter will give Flagg a run for his money.<\/p>\n

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