INDIANAPOLIS — Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel has achieved yet another milestone in an impressive rookie season as the No. 4 pick from Duke.
The Hornets swingman broke Keegan Murray’s NBA rookie record for 3-pointers, netting his 207th on Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers. Knueppel hit five 3s in the first half and then surpassed the record in the third quarter with an assist from Sion James, his former college teammate at Duke.
He wrapped up the game with 28 points in the 133-109 victory, hitting 8 of 12 from beyond the arc, tying his career high and coming just one short of the NBA rookie record. He currently leads the NBA with 209 3-pointers.
“It’s really about making the right basketball play,” Knueppel mentioned following the victory. “My teammates are doing a great job setting screens and finding me in good positions. The coaches are contributing as well. I’m just focused on making the right plays for my team.”
Murray took 80 games in 2022-23 to set the record, while Knueppel achieved it in just 59 games. He admitted he didn’t realize the significance of the shot that set the new mark.
“Honestly, I thought I needed seven,” Knueppel remarked.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry holds the single-season NBA record with 402 3-pointers.
Knueppel is shooting 44.2% from beyond the arc, making him a strong contender for NBA Rookie of the Year alongside his former college teammate and roommate Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick of the Dallas Mavericks. His contributions have also helped lift the Hornets into playoff contention, a feat they haven’t achieved since the 2015-16 season.
“Having a player that talented yet humble really elevates our entire culture. It’s contagious throughout the organization,” Hornets coach Charles Lee told CGTN Sports Scene after Knueppel surpassed 200 3-pointers on Tuesday night.
Knueppel has found a perfect fit in coach Lee’s offense alongside playmaker LaMelo Ball, utilizing his knack for finding open spaces on the court—a skill he attributes to competing in his father’s men’s league against taller opponents starting in eighth grade in Milwaukee.
He has excelled as a catch-and-shoot player, with 93% of his 3-pointers this season coming off assists leading into Thursday night, according to Cleaning the Glass.
His impressive shooting percentage has caught the attention of many across the league.
Curry, the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made, recorded 166 on 380 attempts as a rookie during the 2009-10 season with the Warriors, while Knueppel has now taken 473 3-pointers.
“He can definitely shoot the ball at a high level,” Curry said after a recent game against the Hornets. “You can’t leave him open at all; he has such a quick release and plays with confidence. His playmaking is very underrated. His style fits both fast-paced and slower possession games in the NBA.”
Knueppel surpassed Donovan Mitchell, who ranks third on the rookie 3-pointers list, during a loss to the Cavaliers on Feb. 20.
Mitchell humorously noted that he heard about it from Cavs teammate Tyrese Proctor, who played with Knueppel at Duke.
“He’s talented,” Mitchell commented about Knueppel. “As a rookie, he makes it look effortless on the court. We know he can shoot, but his ability to get to the midrange and develop plays in small pick-and-rolls is something unique about his skill set, allowing him to create advantages for himself.
“It will be exciting to see how he and Coop compete for Rookie of the Year.”
Information from The Associated Press was utilized in this report.
