The Charlotte Hornets hit the jackpot when they selected Kon Knueppel with the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. In his rookie season, Knueppel has proven that he is one of the best shooters in the league.
His rookie-year performance has led to him being in the middle of a Rookie of the Year-worthy season. Knueppel’s primary rival is Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks, who is a former teammate from their Duke days.
Knueppel loves competing against Flagg
The 2025 Draft class has cemented itself as one of the most impressive in recent history. With players like Knueppel, Flagg, and VJ Edgecombe, there are tons of potential stars.
Those three players are the cream of the crop, but there are plenty of players who could also reach their level. In the meantime, Knueppel and Flagg are the best candidates for the Rookie of the Year award.
MORE: ESPN analyst’s top ranked rookie may surprise you
Knueppel and Flagg have been connected for a long time as former roommates and teammates at Duke. This is a fun Rookie of the Year race because of that relationship and their contrasting play styles.
Flagg is more of a well-rounded athlete who thrives most on defense. Knueppel is a sharpshooter who loves scoring from all three levels. Since they are rivals in the ROY race now, Knueppel was excited ahead of their first-ever NBA matchup.
“It’ll be fun to compete against him. Obviously, he’s a great player. And so I think it’s fun to compete against the best players, and that’s who he is. So it should be a good challenge for us tonight,” Knueppel said ahead of their matchup.
The NBA is in good hands with some of its promising players, and this former Duke duo is part of that. The Rookie of the Year race is heating up, and it will be interesting to see how it will all play out come April.
