Nick Nurse: Kon Knueppel’s elite shooting skill makes him valuable

Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel has put together an impressive, highly efficient debut season.

He’s appeared in 73 games in 2025/26, missing just one, and is averaging 19.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 31.6 minutes per night while shooting .485 from the field, .434 from three, and .864 from the line.

Although the Sixers selected VJ Edgecombe with the third pick in last year’s draft, one spot ahead of Knueppel, both rookies have performed at a high level.

On Saturday, Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse spoke highly of the former Duke standout, as noted by Roderick Boone.

“Lots of people really liked him in the draft for sure, and he’s proved those people right and the people that didn’t, he’s proved those people wrong,” Nurse said.

“For me, I just think he was a hooper, man. You just knew he was a competitor, and knew how to play and had lots of pieces to the game as well. He’s again one of those guys that he’ll rebound, he’ll block out, he’ll set screens – he knows how to play all parts of the game.

“And then, of course, he throws on that elite shooting skill … His elite skill is the shooting, and I think that’s what makes him so good, so valuable.”

Knueppel grabbed 11 rebounds on Saturday, though he struggled from the field, going 3-for-14 – his third-worst shooting performance of the season.

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