Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel has earned the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award for October and November. He beat out teammate Ryan Kalkbrenner and third overall pick VJ Edgecombe for the honors. Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick, won the Western Conference award.
How Charlotte Knueppel landed
The Hornets entered the 2025 NBA Draft lottery and immediately had the best odds to secure the top pick after finishing 19-63. That spot would have given them the opportunity to select Flagg, who dominated college basketball in the winter and spring. The lottery hasn’t stood in their way. Charlotte fell to the fourth pick and missed out on Duke’s star forward.
They pivoted quickly and selected Kon Knueppel, Flagg’s college teammate and one of the most efficient wings in the class. The decision already seems to be a great success.
Strong debut month
Knueppel performed during his first month as a pro, averaging 18.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 47.0% from the field and 41.3% from three on 8.4 attempts per game. His scoring, versatility and confidence helped stabilize a young squad still looking for consistency.
He becomes the third Hornets rookie this decade to win Rookie of the Month. Brandon Miller claimed the honor from January through March 2024, and LaMelo Ball earned it from December through March in the 2020-2021 season.
Hornets President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson was high on Knueppel long before draft night. During a pre-draft workout, Peterson told head coach Charles Lee: “He’s so hard on himself, and that’s exactly what you want. He cares. He cares at the highest level. The character, the person, the IQ, all of that.”
A promising draft lesson
Charlotte’s entire journey drew early praise. Knueppel projects as a future All-Star. Kalkbrenner and Sion James have shown the tools to become reliable role players. Liam McNeeley has shown potential despite limited early production.
A step towards relevance
The Hornets are still in the early stages of a lengthy rebuild, but Knueppel’s emergence gives the franchise a clear building block. He was Charlotte’s best player in the opening stretch and is already showing the signs of a future franchise face.
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