Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel has rewritten the record books. The 20-year-old shattered the NBA rookie record for three-pointers made in a single season on Thursday (Feb. 26) night against the Indiana Pacers, and the basketball world took notice immediately.
NBA World Reacts to Kon Knueppel Breaking Rookie 3-Point Record
The Duke standout finished with 28 points and shot 8-of-12 from beyond the arc as the Hornets rolled to a 133-109 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Hornets have now won three straight games and improved to 29-31, sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference.
The record Knupple broke was set by Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray, who knocked down 206 threes during the 2022-23 season across 80 games. Knueppel surpassed that mark in just 59 games.
Here’s how the NBA world celebrated the Hornets’ rookie’s record-breaking feat:
Charlotte Hornets’ official Reddit community handle highlighted the achievement with a post: “KON KNUEPPEL JUST BROKE THE ROOKIE 3PM RECORD! 👌 207 threes and counting in his first NBA season… unbelievable performance by the Charlotte Hornets rookie.”
KON KNUEPPEL JUST BROKE THE ROOKIE 3PM RECORD! 👌
207 threes and counting in his first NBA season… unbelievable performance by the Charlotte Hornets rookie. pic.twitter.com/rT07OhvleL
— r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) February 27, 2026
Clutchpoint’s NBA writer Tomer Azarly added the historical context to Knupple’s achievement:
“Hornets’ guard Kon Knueppel has passed Keegan Murray for most 3-pointers in a rookie season.
1. Kon Knueppel — 207 (59 games)
2. Keegan Murray — 206 (80 games)
3. Donovan Mitchell — 187 (79 games)”
FanDuel TV X handle backed Knupple’s MVP case, posting:
“Rookie record for most 3-pointers in a season:
1️⃣ Kon Knueppel: 209 (59 games)
2️⃣ Keegan Murray: 206 (80 games)
3️⃣ Donovan Mitchell: 187 (79 games)
4️⃣ Damian Lillard: 185 (82 games)
5️⃣ Brandon Miller (74 games)
Rookie of the year? 👀”
Rookie record for most 3-pointers in a season:
1️⃣ Kon Knueppel: 209 (59 games)
2️⃣ Keegan Murray: 206 (80 games)
3️⃣ Donovan Mitchell: 187 (79 games)
4️⃣ Damian Lillard: 185 (82 games)
5️⃣ Brandon Miller (74 games)Rookie of the year? 👀#NBA | #HiveMentality pic.twitter.com/hT0OgYRFh0
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) February 27, 2026
Hoop Central was equally direct in spotlighting Knupple’s meteoric rise: “BREAKING: Kon Knueppel breaks the NBA rookie record for threes made in a season SPECIAL. 🔥🔥🔥”
BREAKING: Kon Knueppel breaks the NBA rookie record for threes made in a season
SPECIAL. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/9Kznslmjow
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 27, 2026
Statsmuse X page put a spotlight on Knupple’s elite long-range shooting skills:
“Kon Knueppel last four games:
33 points | 7 threes
28 points | 5 threes
21 points | 3 threes
28 points | 8 threes
Leading the league in threes since the All-Star break.”
Kon Knueppel last four games:
33 points | 7 threes
28 points | 5 threes
21 points | 3 threes
28 points | 8 threesLeading the league in threes since the All-Star break. pic.twitter.com/evu9ShfWNh
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 27, 2026
This is the second major three-point milestone Knueppel has hit this season. Earlier, he became the fastest player in NBA history to make 200 three-pointers, a mark the NBA highlighted on X while noting he had reclaimed the top spot on the Kia Rookie Ladder.
On the season, Knueppel is averaging 19.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, shooting 49.1% from the field and 44.2% from three.
His free-throw percentage sits at 89.3%, putting him in rare territory for a potential 50/40/90 season. No rookie has ever accomplished that in NBA history.
Knueppel was the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke, and he is proving his worth right away. The Hornets have not made the playoffs since the 2015-16 season, but Knueppel has given the franchise something to genuinely build around.
