Hornets pick up option on Knueppel

The NBA Charlotte Hornets are picking up the third-year option on former Wisconsin high school basketball standout Kon Knueppel.  Knueppel, who played high school basketball at Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, and college basketball at Duke, will earn about $11,000,000 in the 2027-28 NBA season.  He was the fourth overall pick of the 2025 NBA draft, and averaged 19 points, five rebounds and three assists per game last season, while shooting 43% from three-point range.  Knueppel is a 6’6 small forward, and  finished second in voting for NBA Rookie of the Year last season behind Cooper Flagg of Dallas.