Kon Knueppel Named Spurs' Best Fit over Dylan Harper in ESPN 2025 NBA Mock Draft
ESPN's Jonathan Givony believes the San Antonio Spurs could address their biggest need by targeting Duke star Kon Knueppel with the second pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
The Dallas Mavericks are widely expected to select Knueppel's former teammate Cooper Flagg at No. 1 overall.
The Spurs will then have their choice of top prospects, including Knueppel, Rutgers' Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, and Baylor's VJ Edgecombe at No. 2.
Harper is considered the "consensus" No. 2 overall prospect in the upcoming draft, ESPN's Jeremy Woo noted.
But Givony wrote in ESPN's latest mock draft that Knueppel would fit best into the Spurs roster as a "high-feel, dynamic perimeter shooter" who could slot in with Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox and 2024 No. 4 overall pick Stephon Castle.
Knueppel averaged 14.4 points on 47.9 percent shooting from the field and 40.6 percent shooting from deep through 39 starts during his lone college season. He added 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game for the Blue Devils.
"He's the draft's best shooter, capable of shooting off movement coming off screens, but also is a solid defender and playmaker who plays a selfless, highly competitive style," Givony wrote.
Givony also added that Knueppel's fit in Duke's offense as a second option to Flagg could make him a good fit alongside Wembanyama.
The Duke men's basketball program is likely a fan of Givony's analysis. The team's X account recommended back in May that the Spurs give Knueppel "a long look at 2."
The first round of the 2025 NBA draft is slated to begin on Wednesday, June 25 at 8 p.m. ET.
