2025 NBA Draft Scouting Report for Charlotte Hornets No. 4 Pick for Kon Knueppel
The Charlotte Hornets have selected Kon Knueppel with the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
Knueppel climbed draft boards late in the process after standout combine sessions and strong workouts showed off his shooting, feel and toughness. As teams dug deeper, it became clear his game might be more NBA-ready than many of the flashier prospects ahead of him.
The 19-year-old plays with a smooth cadence and high IQ. His shooting stroke from deep is reliable, and he rarely forces plays.
With a sturdy 6'7" frame, he can post up smaller wings, make reads and defend multiple positions.
During his freshman year at Duke, playing alongside Cooper Flagg, Knueppel earned second-team All-ACC honors, ACC All-Freshman recognition, and he earned ACC Tournament MVP after averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists over three games in the title run.
Bottom line, Knueppel projects as a plug-and-play wing who spaces the floor, facilitates and holds his own on defense.
He may not be a future All-Star, but his late rise could signal a long career as a reliable two-way contributor.
Knueppel ranks No. 5 on B/R NBA draft expert Jonathan Wasserman's 2025 Prospect Big Board.
Kon Knueppel vs. 2025 Draft Wings
2024–25 college season · projected 1st & 2nd round wing prospects
Essential Facts and Stats
Previous Team: Duke | Position: SF | Height: 6'7" | Weight: 217 lbs | Age: 19 | Vertical: 31½ inches | Wingspan: 6'6" | PPG: 14 | RPG: 4 | APG: 2.7 | BPG: 0.2 | SPG: 1 | FG%: 47.9 | 3PT%: 40.6
Realistic Pro Comparison: Desmond Bane
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Shooting will always be Knueppel's moneymaker, but his upside shined most at Duke when he was put in ball-screen situations.
Though not an advanced one-on-one scorer, he created a lot of opportunity as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, a job that Desmond Bane has excelled at for the Memphis Grizzlies, and a job he'll now hold for the Orlando Magic.
Like Bane, Knueppel has the potential to provide shotmaking diversity and consistency while also being able to offer ball-screen offense with his driving, passing and pull-up game.
Strengths
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Shooting: Knueppel is a skilled and proven shooter dating back to high school. Every attempt is textbook form, with his feet and body control rising into movement and pull-up jumpers.
Secondary playmaking: Knueppel emerged as an effective playmaker for Duke, mostly due to his pacing and IQ in ball-screen situations. Despite lacking creative handles or explosiveness, his intelligent reads make him a pick-and-roll weapon.
Intangibles: Knueppel rarely makes an unforced error. He's a good decision-maker who compensates for limited athleticism with competitiveness and IQ.
Weaknesses
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Athletic Ability: Knueppel lacks the explosiveness to earn himself easy baskets on blow-by drives or finishes. He had two dunks all season in 2025 at Duke.
Creation: He needs a ball screen or bad closeout to create for himself in the half court. This will limit his ceiling as long as it remains a weakness.
Off-the-Dribble Shooting: Though known for elite shooting touch, Knueppel did not shoot well off the dribble and on floaters. This led to inefficient ball-screen scoring, which could limit how teams use him in the NBA.
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