Charlotte Hornets Select Kon Knueppel with No. 4 Pick—And It’s the Right Call, Despite Criticism
Former Duke standout and freshman sensation Kon Knueppel was taken with the No. 4 overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2025 NBA Draft—a move many viewed as one of the safest and most sensible of the night. Knueppel is widely regarded as one of the most NBA-ready prospects in this class. However, not everyone agreed, as Bleacher Report handed the Hornets a puzzling C+ grade for the selection.
“Enough momentum had been moving this direction in recent mock drafts that this selection isn’t quite a shock,” wrote Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley. “However, Kon Knueppel seems much more like a support piece than a building block, which isn’t the case for some of the other blue-chippers left on the board. A Hornets team coming off consecutive 60-plus-loss campaigns should probably be chasing upside over everything else.”
While Knueppel may not have the same perceived ceiling as some of his fellow lottery picks, his high floor and seamless fit with Charlotte’s core make him an ideal addition. The Hornets are not just drafting talent—they’re building cohesion—and Knueppel brings elite complementary skills to a team centered around LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
Defensively, Knueppel fills an immediate need on the perimeter. At 6’7″, the Wisconsin native offers size, versatility, and physicality—traits the Hornets sorely lacked last season when they finished 24th in the league in defensive rating. His high motor and willingness to defend multiple positions will instantly upgrade Charlotte’s wing defense.
Offensively, Knueppel’s game is tailor-made for the current Hornets roster. As a deadly off-ball threat, he fits perfectly alongside Ball and Miller, both of whom are score-first players who command defensive attention. Knueppel, arguably the best shooter in the 2025 class, knocked down 40.6% of his threes on 5.2 attempts per game as a Duke freshman. That number climbed even higher in catch-and-shoot situations, particularly from the corners. With Ball’s elite passing and drive-and-kick ability, Knueppel will have ample opportunities to thrive as a floor spacer both in transition and in the half-court.
The presence of Ball and Miller will naturally draw defenses away from Knueppel, giving him clean looks and a clear path to early offensive success. Combine that with his maturity, low turnover rate, and relentless effort, and it’s hard to argue against the fit—or the pick.
The C+ grade? That feels less like analysis and more like a misread of what Charlotte truly needs: not just upside, but stability, shooting, and a player ready to contribute from day one. In Kon Knueppel, they found exactly that.
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