Kon Knueppel Makes Hornets Rookie of the Year Contender

Merlin sees Kon Knueppel, a second-lottery Duke rookie, bursting past expectations in Charlotte — outplaying higher-profile peers and emerging as the early Rookie of the Year favorite. He’s hit threes at a high clip, posted a true-shooting rate above 60%, and shown surprising pull-up shooting and playmaking, turning what scouts called a role player into a season-altering weapon for the Hornets. Merlin notes the usual doubts — limited lateral quickness, modest finishing and turnover tendencies — but also the savvy that hides those flaws: strong balance, smart off-ball movement and the feel to create and pass. That mix makes his hot start plausible to sustain and reshapes Charlotte’s build (and rumors around LaMelo). Expect teams to retool their evaluations of shooters who think small.