Kon Knuppel made a splash with his performance in the Charlotte Hornets' matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
Knueppel is halfway through his rookie year in the NBA with the Hornets. He has made remarkable progress as one of the best-performing newcomers from the 2025 draft class, becoming a contender for Rookie of the Year.
The star rookie proved himself with another excellent performance against Cleveland. In 37 minutes of action, Knueppel had a stat line of 33 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal. He made 11 of 20 shots from the field, including 7 of 15 from beyond the arc and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line.
Kon Knuppel in the Hornets' loss to the Cavs tonight 🐝
33 points 11-of-20 FG
6 rebounds 7-of-15 3pts
0 turnover pic.twitter.com/hhvqBDhVu3- ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 21 February 2026
It didn't take long for fans to react to her performance, expressing their amazement at the newbie's star talent. Here are some of their reactions.
One fan said, "Kon Nuppel kid is gonna be a problem. So good 💫."
"This is a big night for Kon Knueppel - 33 points on 11/20 shooting and 7/15 from three is excellent efficiency - especially in 37 minutes. This kind of perimeter shooting shows confidence and ability to make serious shots," another commented.
One commented, "Kon Knueppel dropped 33 points on 7 of 15 from three in the same night Donovan Mitchell scored 32 and the Cavs are showing they have a lot of ways to beat you. Knueppel is no longer a rookie, he's a weapon."
"33 in 37 minutes...that's the real production 🔥," one replied.
One fan said, "No need for that kind of "adjustment" from day one. It would be a travesty if he wasn't rotten."
Kon Nueppel, how the Hornets played against the Cavaliers
Despite notable efforts from Kon Knueppel, it was not enough as the Hornets lost to the Cavaliers 118–113.
Five players scored in double figures for Charlotte in the loss, including Knueppel. LaMelo Ball was next with 18 points and six assists, Brandon Miller had 18 points and four assists, Ryan Kalkbrenner added 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Josh Green added 11 points and two assists.
Charlotte finished the season with a 26–31 record and 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls, while trailing the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat.
The Hornets will look to bounce back in their next match while on the road. They will face the Washington Wizards on February 22, tip-off at 6 PM ET.
