Something is shifting in Charlotte — and it’s happening faster than anyone expected. Another early-season stretch without LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller has reopened an old wound: The Charlotte Hornets still don’t know if their franchise cornerstones can stay on the floor. But this time, something else has happened too.
Kon Knueppel has arrived.
And over the last two weeks, he hasn’t just kept Charlotte afloat — he’s reshaped the entire discussion about the Hornets’ rebuild.
A rookie with veteran-level production
Knueppel’s surge has been impossible to ignore. While Ball was sidelined, the rookie averaged 21.