On Monday night, rookie Kon Knueppel scored 23 points as the Charlotte Hornets won against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The reaction from fans was instantaneous. Many saw it as an opportunity for the Hornets to scale up, excited about what a younger roster will have to offer in the future.
And while many remained skeptical about the team’s future, Knueppel — already proving himself as a capable player — had a hopeful take on the Hornets’ impressive offense.
Hornets Rookie Kon Knueppel Speaks on Team’s Offense After Win vs. Thunder
Brandon Miller scored a team-high 28 points to lead the Hornets to their massive 124-97 win against the Thunder. And while the internet hyped the team for humbling Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his championship-winning roster.
Furthermore, this loss was the lowest score for the Thunder this season.
Knueppel, speaking to the media after the game, didn’t lose sight of their long-term goals while being happy about the win. After all, beating the team with the league-best record wasn’t easy.
“We were composed. We came in here like we belonged, and we gotta do that every night,” the 20-year-old rookie said. “…We can be an elite offensive group. We play with the pass, and we play fast. That’s what we’ve been doing for the past half-month, and we want to keep it going.”
Though there’s much to discuss about the Hornets possibly becoming a playoff contender soon, one thing has been common — fans pushing Knueppel to win the Rookie of the Year award. Of course, Cooper Flagg, another Duke graduate, is another favorite for the same.
Averaging 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, while shooting 48.3% from the field, ESPN reported Knueppel to be a ‘heavy’ favorite to win.
Knueppel is also the fastest player ever to make 100 three-pointers, already setting the tone for other long-term records he might break in the future. Some fans already see him as a future Hall of Famer, eagerly awaiting his opportunity to gain experience.
Warriors HC Steve Kerr Compared Knueppel to Golden State Legend
Considering his impressive three-point shooting, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr — who coached Stephen Curry — had to comment on Knueppel’s progress as a rookie.
Speaking to the media, Kerr compared the young Hornets star to Chris Mullin.
I see a lot of Chris Mullin. He has really good size on the wing, a big, strong body, and can catch-and-shoot…But also, incredible IQ, passing, and making the right play over and over again. He’s already a really, really damn good player,” Kerr explained.
And while it might be too early to conclude which NBA legend Knueppel represents, there’s certainly potential for him to grow up as an NBA great.
Following their win against OKC, the Hornets will play the Toronto Raptors next on Wednesday, Jan. 7.
