It came as no surprise to anyone in the NBA community that the Dallas Mavericks selected Duke Blue Devils phenom Cooper Flagg with the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The same cannot be said for Flagg’s teammate, Kon Knueppel, who was surprisingly taken off the board with the No. 4 pick by the Charlotte Hornets. The likes of Rutgers’ Ace Bailey and Texas’ Tre Johnson were still available when Charlotte’s front office opted to pair the sharpshooting guard with LaMelo Ball.
Although Flagg and Knueppel spent just one season together on the Blue Devils, Flagg’s reaction to the news was priceless.
Cooper Flagg Has Wholesome Reaction to Hornets’ Kon Knueppel Selection
When the Hornets were on the clock, Flagg was in the middle of being interviewed by Taylor Rooks for NBA TV. However, the moment the No. 1 pick heard his teammate’s name called, he stopped answering the question and began cheering and clapping. Flagg then stood up and continued applauding Knueppel before resuming his interview and politely apologizing to Rooks for the live reaction.
Watch the clip below shared by NBA TV on X, which garnered more than 100,000 views within the first hour of posting.
Cooper Flagg was HYPE for his @DukeMBB roommate Kon Knueppel going at No. 4 to the @hornets in the #NBADraft 😆👏
🎙️ @TaylorRooks pic.twitter.com/olllOhuozF
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 26, 2025
Knueppel did excel in his lone season at Duke, but his low ceiling is the reason fans were shocked the Hornets selected him so early. Charlotte went bold in last year’s lottery by selecting raw prospect Tidjane Salaün, who did not pan out well in his rookie campaign. This could be the biggest reason the Hornets took one of the highest-floor players in the class.
Ball may be growing impatient with Charlotte’s lack of success and roster additions, so the front office views this choice as a win-now move to keep their franchise cornerstone satisfied. Here’s a scouting report on Knueppel showing what he can bring to the Hornets’ rotation as soon as the 2026 regular season.
“Knueppel does more than just gun 3’s. He can attack closeouts well, using good craft and size to get to the rim,” Sporting News’ Stephen Noh wrote. “He’s shown some nice technique in the post and midrange. And he’s a better playmaker than advertised, taking some pick-and-roll duties in Duke’s offense.
“NBA offenses prioritize quick decision-making. Knueppel already does that well. When advantages are created for him, he’s able to keep them going. Knueppel is a smart, mistake-free player. He’s not the most dynamic guy in this class, but he’s going to make the most of his opportunities and hit shots.”
Outside of when Flagg and Knueppel are on opposite sides of the ball just a few times a year, it’s obvious the former Blue Devils teammates will support each other in every other circumstance.
