The Charlotte Hornets took the first step towards making the NBA playoffs by defeating the Miami Heat in a big 127-126 overtime home win to kick off the Play-In Tournament. Surprisingly, the Hornets won despite rookie sharpshooter Kon Knueppel’s poor shooting performance.
Knueppel’s poor game is a red flag for several Rookie of the Year voters, who now favor Dallas Mavericks wing Cooper Flagg as the clear top choice. A notable NBA analyst commented on this development.
Kendrick Perkins Calls Out Hornets Sharpshooter Kon Knueppel After Poor Performance
NBA champion and current analyst Kendrick Perkins took a shot at Knueppel following his performance against the Heat, which may have destroyed his Rookie of The Year chances. Perkins said on X “To be fair it was a big stage and Kon wasn’t ready to dance.”
Knueppel had one of his worst games of the season when it mattered most, shooting 2-12 from the field, while scoring six points in the win over the Heat. He missed all six of his three point attempts, committed four fouls, and finished with a game-worst -20 plus/minus rating. Perkins believes that Knueppel was simply overwhelmed by the moment.
MR 1OF1 ❗️#ProtectTheHive x @MELOD1P pic.twitter.com/J1jFztnfm6
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) April 15, 2026
The fourth overall pick in last summer’s draft, Knueppel quickly emerged as a core player for the Hornets, showing excellent chemistry with LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. He finished the regular season averaging 18.5 points per game, while shooting 42.5% from three.
While Perkins believes Knueppel couldn’t handle the pressure of playing in a high-stakes game, it’s fair to wonder if fatigue is a factor.
Knueppel finished the regular season in a shooting slump, shooting 39 percent from the field and 34.8% from three. While he turned cold, his former college teammate Flagg finished the regular season in style. Flagg finished his rookie season averaging 29.2 points per game in April, including shooting 42.9% from three.
His 51-point game against the Orlando Magic tilted the ROTY race, and Knueppel’s cold streak has strengthened his position. The one advantage Knueppel has is that he’s still playing this season, while Flagg and the Mavericks are not, and he has another opportunity to make things right and regain some momentum.
The Hornets face the loser of the upcoming game between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers to determine who takes the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. A strong game from Knueppel may force Perkins to eat his words.
