The Charlotte Hornets already know they have one of the NBA’s best shooters in rookie guard Kon Nueppel. The rest of the league got to see it for the first time in the 2026 3-Point Contest.
Knueppel is the only rookie in the 2026 Shootout and he represented himself well in the first round. The 20-year-old took an early lead by scoring 27 points in his first 3-point contest and punched his ticket to the final round.
Con Knueppel led the way in the first round of the 3-pt contest with 27 points.pic.twitter.com/iftC0I2uU7 https://t.co/g8xEWy35Ww
– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026
Knueppel’s 27 points were bested only by Devin Booker, who led the first period with 30 points. Damian Lillard also posted 27 points to join the final trio. Lillard won the contest with a 29-point championship round.
Knueppel entered the All-Star break making 43.1 percent of his three-point attempts. He has been consistently good from deep throughout the season, making over 40 percent of his long-range shots in all but one month this season.
Knueppel’s 183 three-pointers made before the All-Star break are second in the league, two behind Donovan Mitchell. The rookie was off to a hot start in February before the break, averaging 4.6 triples per game in his last five contests.
Had Knueppel won the championship, he would have been the first rookie in NBA history to do so. Stephen Curry, Kyle Korver, Dennis Scott and Lillard all participated as rookies, but none claimed a victory.
Despite the cheater curse, Knueppel was the favorite to win the competition. Even with a strong performance in the second round, he likely would have lost to Lillard, who won his third 3-Point Contest crown.
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