Duke wing Kon Knueppel is declaring for the 2025 NBA draft and will go pro, he announced today on social media (Instagram link).
“Forever a Blue Devil,” he wrote in his Instagram post. “Taking the Brotherhood with me to the next chapter.”
Knueppel was a full-time starter as a freshman on a Duke team that made the Final Four this spring. Across 39 games, he averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steal in 30.5 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .479/.406/.914.
Although the Blue Devils fell short of the championship game, Knueppel cemented his status as a projected lottery pick with a handful of strong performances in the NCAA Tournament. He scored 20 points vs. Arizona in the Sweet 16 and 21 against Alabama in the Elite Eight. He contributed 16 points and seven rebounds in Duke’s Final Four loss to Houston.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have Knueppel coming off the board at No. 8 in their most recent mock draft, noting that the 19-year-old gave the Blue Devils elite efficiency and spacing as a freshman while also showing more than expected as a play-maker and defender.
Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report also has Knueppel at No. 8 in his most recent mock draft, while Sam Vecenie of The Athletic places him at No. 6.
To me I don’t see the attraction. He is a shooter and a true wing. Not quick by NBA standards. A smart player, a team player. Considering how deep this draft is. His upside is not as high as top 14 players to me. End of lottery, I can see that. I don’t see top 7-10. Which most boards have him at. Gotta be a Duke thing.
You literally described why he’s going into the top 10.
Shooter and true wing. Most teams if not all love that trait together.
Agreed that I see more Kennard/Allen in his game. I think Liam McNeeley should be ranked higher than him with his size at 6’8 and shooting.
Shooting in College is not the same as NBA. Having size in college is not the sane thing. I see better NBA talents. A team picking top 10 or lottery. Should probably be more concerned about adding real talent. Not just a shooter. Russian kid Demin is a better talent to me. Kasparas is a better talent. Fland is a better talent. Queen, Newell, Maluach. Even Broome at least for Knicks. I have seen him ahead of all of them in most drafts. Kispert in Washington was a shooter coming out too …….
Nice size, good shooting, young whte guy. Could be something special or just a specialist. Honestly hard to find a good one. Extremely rare
I would take him over Liam but we will see. Anyone want to make a bet? Liam will struggle being a tweener
I’ll take that. He is a rotation guy to me. Same player as Kon. Plays more D. Right now Kon is a better shooter. I see same pkayers in NBA. Liam is tougher. Yet he is in 2nd rd. Maybe end of first.
He’s going to be just fine. Americans see a guy without a 40 inch vertical and lightning quickness and assume they can’t play basketball. That’s why 50% of the top 5 high school recruits between 2010 and 2020 have been complete busts. And the very best in the world are chubby Europeans. Knueppel has earned a single digit lottery pick.
USA players today have no basketball IQ or any IQ of any sort. Free ride. Now we get paid in college
You mean assume like this …… Kasparas is a better talent. By far
This kid really improved from November till March. I’m excited to see how he develops in the nba
His nickname should be “the ice cream man” lol