Kon Knueppel Bio
Kon II Knueppel is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on August 3, 2005, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils before being selected fourth overall in the 2025 NBA draft by the Hornets. A sharpshooting wing with a strong frame at 6 feet 6 inches tall, Knueppel has quickly established himself as one of the most promising young perimeter players in the league.
After a single standout season at Duke, Knueppel entered the professional ranks and immediately produced for Charlotte. His early professional résumé already includes a Summer League championship and several league-wide honors, signaling a rapid rise from Wisconsin high school standout to NBA contributor.
Early Life and Background
Kon II Knueppel was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he grew up surrounded by basketball. He attended Wisconsin Lutheran High School and developed his game with the Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings. As a freshman, he averaged 10.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, laying a foundation for the production that would follow in later years.
By his junior season, Knueppel had emerged as one of the top prospects in the state, posting averages of 19.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. As a senior, he elevated his play further, averaging 26.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game during the regular season. He was named Wisconsin Mr. Basketball and helped lead Wisconsin Lutheran to the 2024 Boys Basketball Division 2 State Championship against Pewaukee, finishing the year with a perfect 30–0 record.
Path to Basketball
Knueppel came into his senior year as one of the most heavily recruited players in the country. He was rated a five-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals, and a four-star recruit by ESPN and On3. He participated in the 2024 Jordan Brand Classic, one of the marquee high school all-star events, which further confirmed his status as a top-tier national prospect.
After weighing offers from programs including Alabama, Virginia, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Marquette, and USC, Knueppel committed to Duke. He signed a National Letter of Intent on November 15, 2023, during the early signing period, becoming one of the centerpieces of a highly regarded Blue Devils recruiting class.
Kon Knueppel Career
Early Career at Wisconsin Lutheran (2021–2024)
Knueppel spent three seasons with the Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings, transforming from a productive freshman into the unquestioned leader of the program. His scoring averages climbed each year, and his rebounding and assist numbers showed a player who impacted the game in multiple ways. The Vikings’ unbeaten 30–0 campaign in 2023–24 cemented his reputation as a winner.
His senior-year recognition included Wisconsin Mr. Basketball and a selection to the Jordan Brand Classic. By the time he graduated, he was widely viewed as one of the top scorers and most well-rounded wings in the 2024 high school class.
Duke Breakthrough (2024–2025)
Knueppel enrolled at Duke University in June 2024 to take part in the Blue Devils’ summer practices. He made his college debut on November 4, 2024, against Maine, scoring 22 points with four rebounds in a 96–62 win. One week later, on November 11, he was named ACC Rookie of the Week after averaging 18.5 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
Throughout ACC play, Knueppel delivered consistent scoring performances. He scored 18 points in a win over Georgia Tech on December 21, 2024, and added 17 points against Pittsburgh on January 7, 2025. He posted 25 points and three assists in an 89–54 win over Miami on January 14, and recorded double-double-adjacent efforts against Wake Forest and NC State in late January. He saved one of his best performances for February 1, 2025, when he scored 22 points in an 87–70 victory over arch-rival North Carolina.
Knueppel’s lone college season concluded with his biggest moment. On March 15, 2025, he was named ACC tournament MVP after scoring 18 points and grabbing eight rebounds in Duke’s 73–62 victory over Louisville in the championship game. For the season, he earned Second-team All-ACC and ACC All-Freshman Team honors.
Charlotte Hornets Era (2025–Present)
The Charlotte Hornets selected Knueppel with the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft. He quickly delivered, leading the Hornets to the 2025 NBA Summer League Championship and earning Summer League Championship MVP honors after posting 21 points, five rebounds, and two assists in an 83–78 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Knueppel made his regular-season debut on October 22, recording 11 points and five rebounds in a 136–117 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He strung together strong early performances, including a 30-point game against the Miami Heat that helped earn a nomination for Eastern Conference Player of the Week on November 9. On the same day, he logged a near triple-double of 19 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in a 121–111 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. He set a career high with 32 points on November 14 in a 147–134 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, his hometown team, hitting two late three-pointers to force overtime.
Knueppel continued producing, earning a second Eastern Conference Player of the Week nomination on November 23 after averaging over 26 points, five rebounds, and three assists across four games. He set an NBA record as the fastest player to make 50 three-pointers, doing so in his 15th game, and then set another record with 63 made threes through his first 17 games, well ahead of the previous mark of 47. On December 2, he was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for November. He capped the early season by reaching 100 career three-pointers on December 22 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in just his 29th game, setting the record for fastest to 100 made threes in NBA history and surpassing Lauri Markkanen by 12 games.
Notable Events and Milestones
Knueppel’s rookie season has been defined by record-setting three-point shooting. He holds the NBA record for the fastest 50 and 100 career three-pointers, and his 63 made threes through 17 games stand as a new league benchmark. His ACC tournament MVP performance and Summer League championship MVP honors also stand out as signature early achievements.
Kon Knueppel Career Wins
Kon II Knueppel has accumulated a series of team championships and individual accolades across the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. His win totals include a Wisconsin Division 2 state title with Wisconsin Lutheran, an ACC tournament championship with Duke, and a Summer League championship with the Charlotte Hornets.
NBA Highlights
Knueppel won the 2025 NBA Summer League Championship with the Charlotte Hornets and was named Summer League Championship MVP. As of late 2025, his primary regular-season accomplishments have come through individual records and weekly honors, including two Eastern Conference Player of the Week nominations, the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award for November 2025, and a career-high 32-point game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Other Wins and Performances
Before turning professional, Knueppel won the 2024 Wisconsin Boys Basketball Division 2 State Championship with Wisconsin Lutheran, capping an undefeated 30–0 season. He also helped Duke capture the 2025 ACC tournament championship, earning ACC tournament MVP honors in the process.
Kon Knueppel Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Knueppel comes from a deeply basketball-rooted family. His father, also named Kon, played college basketball at Wisconsin Lutheran College and was the school’s all-time leading scorer until 2019. His father and uncles Klint, Klay, and Kole competed in the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament as a team called the Flying Knueppel Brothers. His uncle Kole is now a college football referee in the Big Ten Conference.
His mother, Chari, played at Wisconsin-Green Bay and is the school’s all-time leading scorer. His uncle, Jeff Nordgaard, also played at Wisconsin-Green Bay and went on to play in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks before competing professionally in Europe.
Personal Life
Knueppel is a Christian and attended grade school and church at St. John’s Lutheran of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He is the oldest of five boys; his brothers, in order of birth, are Kager, Kinston, Kash, and Kid.
2025 Season Performance
Kon II Knueppel’s 2025 calendar has been one of the most productive rookie campaigns in recent memory. After a brief Summer League run that ended with a championship and MVP award, he transitioned seamlessly into the NBA regular season, posting double figures in scoring in his debut and quickly establishing himself as the Hornets’ primary perimeter threat.
Through the first two months of the season, Knueppel has been a constant presence in the league’s weekly awards, earning two Eastern Conference Player of the Week nominations and the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for November. His three-point shooting has been historic, setting records for the fastest 50 and 100 career threes while also setting the mark for most made threes through the first 17 games of a career.
Looking ahead, Knueppel and the Hornets will look to build on his record-setting start. With a clear role as a featured scorer and a three-point shooting profile that already ranks among the most prolific to begin an NBA career, he is positioned as a foundational piece for Charlotte’s young core and a leading contender for the NBA Rookie of the Year award.