Kon Knueppel is the fresh face among a stacked field of veteran sharpshooters selected for the 2026 NBA 3-Point Contest, which features two past winners of the event.
However, the Charlotte Hornets standout appears ready for the challenge as he seeks to build on his sensational rookie campaign.
Kon Knueppel Anticipates ‘Stiff’ NBA 3-Point Contest Competition, Shows Love to Damian Lillard
On Saturday, the NBA announced this year’s 3-Point Contest competitors, with Portland Trail Blazers star guard Damian Lillard’s inclusion generating widespread surprise. The nine-time All-Star has yet to play a game since rejoining Portland over the summer as he recovers from a torn left Achilles tendon, and isn’t expected to return this season.
Knueppel and Lillard are joined by the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker, Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell, Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray, Milwaukee Bucks’ Bobby Portis, and Miami Heat’s Norman Powell.
Five of those players were also chosen for this year’s All-Star teams (Booker, Maxey, Mitchell, Murray, and Powell). Moreover, Lillard is a two-time winner of the 3-point competition (2023 and 2024), while Booker seized the title back in 2018, presenting a daunting test for Knueppel.
“It’s stiff comp, a lot of good shooters,” Knueppel said Monday when asked about his chances of pulling off an upset.
“Dame’s in it. He hasn’t played a game all year, so that was a little bit of a surprise to me. But he’s one of the all-time great 3-point shooters, so it’ll be a fun field and a fun competition.”
Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel weighs in on his chances in a stacked NBA 3-Point Contest field, featuring two past winners. pic.twitter.com/KzPRL7dNOt
— StatHunter (@stat_hunter) February 10, 2026
Knueppel has lived up to his status as the 2025 NBA Draft’s best shooter and then some, achieving multiple shooting milestones, including becoming the fastest player to reach 100 career 3-pointers (29 games).
The 20-year-old also set the Hornets’ franchise rookie record for triples in a single outing (8) in Charlotte’s 123-121 road victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 29.
Through 53 appearances, Knueppel is averaging 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.7 steals, and 3.4 3-pointers per game, posting elite 48.5/42.8/89.9 shooting splits. He ranks second in the league in total 3s (179), trailing only Mitchell (183), showing poise beyond his years as a savvy, high-IQ shot creator.
That should bode well for Knueppel’s chances of taking down a future Hall of Famer like Lillard during the highly anticipated All-Star Saturday festivities at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. The 2025 No. 4 pick will also have the chance to make an even bigger name for himself in the national spotlight amid Charlotte’s unexpected midseason resurgence (25-29).
