Hornets Notes: Knueppel, LaMelo, Improved Play, More

While his former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg has received more media attention, No. 4 overall pick Kon Knueppel continues to thrive for the Hornets, writes Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer. Knueppel, a 6’6″ wing, is one of the top shooters in the NBA as a 20-year-old rookie, averaging 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists on .484/.431/.902 shooting in 54 games (32.1 minutes per contest).

Knueppel, who has won all three of the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month awards thus far in 2025/26, points to Charlotte’s defensive turnaround as the main factor in the team winning 10 of its past 11 games, Fowler notes.

“I really think just defensively, our attention to detail and our competitiveness on that end,” Knueppel said. “We’re a pretty good offensive team. … But I think the biggest reason is just our change of mindset a little bit on the defensive end.”

Here’s more from Charlotte:

• As Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer writes, LaMelo Ball has played a major role in the Hornets’ surge up the standings by being healthy (he has appeared in 29 consecutive games) and showing growth in terms of leadership and maturity. Head coach Charles Lee challenged Ball on Wednesday after the star point guard had some defensive lapses in the first half against Atlanta, and the 24-year-old responded with some key stops down the stretch. “Yeah, and by challenge, it’s not like you go at him, but definitely just try to make him aware,” Lee said. “Atlanta’s game plan, it seemed like they were trying to put him in almost every action. And so to make him aware of it, to let him see the plays in our film session of how they’re trying to attack him … And then for him to step up, I thought was big time. It just shows he continues to grow to be the consistent competitor trying to impact winning any way he possibly can, even at the end of the game. … So, just a super mature adjustment by him on both ends of the floor.”
• Veteran guard/forward Pat Connaughton has witnessed Ball’s development over the course of the season, Boone adds. “I just see the maturity level growing,” Connaughton said. “I see his belief in not just his own abilities, but the abilities of the team. And then not just the abilities of the team, but what he’s capable of. He also knows he’s got four guys that are going to be playing with him and when he moves the basketball, it’s going to come back.”
• The Hornets improved to 26-29 on Wednesday despite missing starters Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, who were suspended four games apiece for their roles in a Monday fight. Lee says the Hornets, who are currently the No. 9 seed in the East, will reflect on the their recent success over the All-Star break with an eye on the future. “With 27 games to go, we’ve built this mindset, we’ve built some resolve, we’ve built an identity — I really, truly believe,” Lee said, per Boone. “And so, as they get a day or two to let their bodies recover, think about what we want to accomplish when we come back here. And I think I know the answer, but it’s the perfect time to reflect on everything we’ve done, and then figure how we can stay hungry and take advantage of a couple of days to rest and recover.”