Golden State Warriors superstar point guard Stephen Curry got his first look at Charlotte Hornets rookie sensation Kon Knueppel during Wednesday’s 132-125 road win. Both players impressed, with Knueppel breaking the two-time MVP’s long-standing rookie record.
Afterward, Curry seized the opportunity to gush over the 2025 No. 4 pick’s dynamic skill set.
Stephen Curry Lauds Kon Knueppel’s ‘Composure’ After Hornets Rookie’s History-Making Performance
In his return from a one-game absence due to a sprained right ankle, Knueppel picked up where he left off, showcasing his versatile offensive repertoire.
The 20-year-old finished with 20 points, five rebounds, eight assists, and four 3-pointers, shooting an efficient 7-for-11 (63.6%). He did his damage inside and out, scoring off the dribble and facilitating for his teammates.
Knueppel knocked down numerous timely shots down the stretch to keep Charlotte within striking distance after its rally from a 15-point third-quarter deficit. This included converting a pull-up midrange jumper over Curry to trim Golden State’s lead to 111-106 with 7:45 remaining.
The sharpshooting rookie later drilled a deep top-of-the-arc triple to pull the Hornets within five points (123-118) with 2:25 to go. Unfortunately for Knueppel, his squad was ultimately outmatched, as the Warriors shot a blistering 24-for-49 from downtown (49%), led by Curry’s 26-point effort with five 3s.
Still, Knueppel made history, notching the most games by a rookie with 20-plus points on 50/40/90 shooting splits (12), a record previously held by Curry.
Yes. Kon Knueppel caught Steph…
Happy New Year! https://t.co/ukmkaJ4upC
— Has Kon Caught Steph? (@3PointKontest) January 1, 2026
In his postgame interview, the four-time NBA champion raved about Knueppel’s all-around impact and ability to adapt to any playstyle.
“It’s impressive. For as young as he is, he plays with such composure,” Curry said. “He obviously can shoot the ball at a high level; you can’t leave him open at all. He just has such a good, quick release and shoots with confidence, and his playmaking is very underrated, too. So, he’s a guy I know that they’re happy to have here.
“His game suits the NBA style, no matter if it’s fast-paced run-and-gun or if it’s a slowed-down possession game, he seems like he’s comfortable with whatever.”
Stephen Curry shows love to Kon Knueppel pic.twitter.com/6zCLOfQrZl
— StatHunter (@stat_hunter) January 1, 2026
Knueppel now ranks third in the NBA in total triples this season (117), trailing only Curry (119) and Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell (125). As such, comparisons between him and the Warriors icon have begun ramping up.
However, Knueppel made it clear that he wants to pump the brakes on such discussions when asked what it was like to “share the floor” with someone he’s “probably going to be compared to for the rest of [his] career.”
“I don’t know about that,” Knueppel quipped postgame.
Kon Knueppel on was it like sharing the floor with someone he’ll probably be compared to for the rest of his career (Steph Curry):
“Hmm…I don’t know about that.”pic.twitter.com/KadRvrAgm8— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) January 1, 2026
Regardless, Hornets fans should be thrilled with Knueppel’s early-career output as he continues to defy even the most optimistic projections for his rookie campaign.
