'F--king Killer,' Hornets HC Hypes Kon Knueppel amid NBA Rookie of the Year Race with Cooper Flagg

Charlotte Hornets star rookie Kon Knueppel has been a revelation this season, and his head coach has been more than impressed with his performance in his first year.

"He has this bravado, this façade, where he doesn't give you much. He stays even keeled," Hornets head coach Charles Lee told The Athletic's Mirin Fader. "But he's a f--king killer."

Knueppel is neck-and-neck with Dallas Mavericks first-year star Cooper Flagg in the race for NBA Rookie of the Year, as his +546 consensus odds rank second behind his former Duke teammate, who leads the way at -400.

The No. 4 pick in the 2025 draft, Knueppel has already set a Hornets franchise record for the most three-pointers made by a rookie. He's averaged 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 42.8 percent from three-point range. He's set to compete in the NBA Three-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend on Saturday.

Knueppel has even surprised himself with his dominance this season, admitting to Fader, "I didn't think I'd play in the NBA."

Knueppel is a part of a young core in Charlotte that appears to be finally completing the franchise's years-long rebuild. The Hornets have won nine straight games to improve to 25-28.

Charlotte will try to make it 10 wins in a row when the team meets the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons (38-13) on Monday night.