INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel reached yet another milestone in a remarkable rookie season for the No. 4 overall pick from Duke.
The Hornets swingman broke Keegan Murray’s NBA rookie record for 3-pointers, making his 207th Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers. Knueppel connected on five 3s in the first half and then broke the record in the third quarter.
It took Murray 80 games in 2022-23 to establish the record — and Knueppel just
59 to surpass it.
Golden State's Stephen Curry holds the single-season NBA record with 402 3s.
Knueppel, who entered the night shooting 43.6% from beyond the arc and leading the league in 3s, broke the record off an assist from Sion James, his college teammate at Duke.
Knueppel is a contender for NBA Rookie of the Year along with his former college teammate and roommate Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick of the Dallas Mavericks. He has also helped propel the long-suffering Hornets into playoff contention with 22 games left.
Charlotte has not made the playoffs since the 2015-16 season.
“It’s what elevates our whole culture when you have a guy that’s that good, but that humble, no ego — it becomes contagious throughout your whole organization,” Hornets coach Charles Lee told CGTN Sports Scene after Knueppel eclipsed 200 3s on Tuesday night.
Knueppel has been a perfect fit in second-year coach Lee's offense alongside playmaker LaMelo Ball, using his basketball IQ to find open spots on the floor — a skill he attributes to playing in his father's men's league against taller competition beginning as an eighth grader growing up in Milwaukee.
Knueppel has thrived as a catch-and-shoot player with 93% of his 3s this season coming off assists entering Thursday night, according to Cleaning the Glass.
He has turned heads across the league with his high shooting percentage.
Curry, the NBA's career leader in 3s, made 166 on 380 attempts as a rookie in with the Warriors in 80 games in 2009-10. Knueppel entered Thursday night having attempted 461 3s.
“He can obviously shoot the ball at a high level,” Curry said after a recent game against the Hornets. “You can’t really leave him open at all as he has such a quick release and shoots with confidence. And his playmaking is very underrated. His game just suits the NBA style, whether it’s fast-paced or a slowed-down possession game.”
Knueppel surpassed Donovan Mitchell, who is third on the list of 3s made by a rookie, in a loss to the Cavaliers on Feb. 20.
Mitchell joked that he heard about it after the game from Cavs teammate Tyrese Proctor, who played with Knueppel at Duke.
“He's talented,” Mitchell said of Knueppel. “For him to be a rookie and be able to go out there and make it look effortless. ... We know he can shoot the ball, right? But I think him getting to the mid-range and play develop in the small pick-and-roll that is something I think is really unique about his game is being able to do that and create advantages for himself."
Mitchell added, “It's going to be interesting with him and Coop for rookie of the year.”
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
