Knueppel (hamstring) was diagnosed with a left hamstring strain Sunday and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Knueppel missed the first eight games of the 2026-27 campaign. He returned for the 114-104 loss to Brooklyn on Wednesday, though he exited the contest after just six minutes of work and didn't return. With Knueppel out of commission for at least a month, Grayson Allen and Sion James are candidates to replace him in the starting lineup, especially with Dennis Schroder (hamstring) sidelined for a minimum of two weeks.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Out with hamstring strain
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Knueppel (hamstring) is out for Friday's game against the Celtics.
Knueppel re-aggravated his left hamstring strain in his season debut Wednesday against Brooklyn. The Hornets haven't yet indicated the sharpshooter is facing a multi-week absence, but they'll likely proceed with caution. Grayson Allen is back in the mix as a high-end fantasy streaming option for as long as Knueppel is out.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Won't return Wednesday
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Knueppel exited Wednesday's game against the Nets after experiencing soreness in his left leg, and he will not return, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.com reports.
This is the same leg that delayed Knueppel's season debut, but for now the team is calling it a leg injury rather than specifically citing his hamstring. Still, it's concerning that he seemingly suffered a non-contact injury after just six minutes of play. For now, Knueppel should be considered questionable for Friday's meeting with the Celtics.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Exits to locker room
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Knueppel (hamstring) exited to the locker room in the first quarter of Wednesday's game against the Nets, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports.
Knueppel was cleared to make his season debut Wednesday after dealing with a left hamstring strain. However, he limped back to the locker room midway through the opening quarter and can be considered questionable to return until more information comes to light.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Expected to play Wednesday
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Knueppel (hamstring) is listed as probable for Wednesday's game against the Nets.
Knueppel hasn't played this season, though it appears he will make his 2026-27 campaign debut versus Brooklyn. It may take him a few games to ramp up. However, Knueppel's return, even in a limited capacity, will presumably send Sion James back to the bench.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Out against Detroit
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Knueppel (hamstring) is listed as out for Monday's game versus the Pistons.
Knueppel is still dealing with a left hamstring injury. While he is moving in the right direction, he will remain out for Monday's meeting with Detroit. For now, Knueppel should be considered week-to-week. Coby White (calf) is off the injury report, so his return will help lessen the blow, even if he plays limited minutes.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Practicing in G League
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Knueppel (hamstring) will practice with the G League's Greensboro Swarm on Thursday, the Hornets announced.
Although the second-year sharpshooter hasn't been given an official timetable, this suggests that he's progressing toward a return. Knueppel will almost certainly be recalled shortly after practice, though an update on his progress may not be given immediately.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: No timeline for return
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Knueppel (hamstring) is without a timetable for a return, Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Knueppel has yet to take the floor this season while on the mend from a left hamstring strain, and at this point in time, the team isn't ready to commit to a return date. Coach Charles Lee stated before Monday's game against Washington that he could have more clarity on the plan for Knueppel following the two-game road trip, which wraps up Friday in Washington.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Ruled out for Monday
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Knueppel (hamstring) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Wizards.
Knueppel will miss a third straight outing due to a left hamstring strain, with his next chance to play coming Wednesday at Detroit. The second-year swingman's continued absence will leave additional playing time available for the likes of Sion James and Grayson Allen.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Remains out Saturday
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Knueppel (hamstring) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Heat.
Knueppel will miss a third consecutive contest due to a left hamstring strain. The second-year swingman has been ramping up toward a return, and his next opportunity to play will come Monday against the Wizards.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Still out with hamstring strain
Rotowire
Knueppel (hamstring) is out for Friday's game against the Hawks.
The sharpshooter can be treated as day-to-day while he recovers from a preseason hamstring strain. With Knueppel sidelined, Grayson Allen should be rostered in the majority of fantasy formats as a high-end streaming option.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Iffy for Opening Night
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Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson said Monday that he "doesn't know" whether Knueppel (hamstring) will be available for the team's regular-season opener against the Nets, Owen Watterson of SI.com reports.
Knueppel's status for Opening Night remains uncertain as he continues to work his way back from his left hamstring injury. Peterson's comments suggest the Hornets aren't ready to rule out the second-year wing, though his availability will likely become clearer as training camp progresses. He has already been ruled out for the entire preseason, to be clear.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: New face of franchise?
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LaMelo Ball's departure accelerates Charlotte's transition toward building around Knueppel and Brandon Miller, according to Cholo Magsino of Yahoo Sports.
The second-year wing could see increased offensive responsibilities immediately, particularly if the Hornets hand more playmaking duties to their young perimeter players. Knueppel's shooting and offensive versatility should make him a key part of Charlotte's long-term plans. Across 81 regular-season games in 2025-26, Knueppel averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists on 47.5 percent shooting from the field.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Takes step back in 2025-26
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Bridges ended Friday's 121-90 Play-In Game loss to the Magic with 15 points (5-12 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 4-4 FT), two rebounds and one assist across 28 minutes.
Bridges propelled the Hornets to a 127-126 overtime victory over the Heat in Tuesday's Play-In Game, when he logged 28 points, nine rebounds, two assists, three blocks and one steal over 43 minutes, though he was unable to replicate that production in Friday's elimination loss. Bridges was productive to open the 2025-26 season, but his numbers dipped significantly following the All-Star break. Over his final 24 regular-season outings from Feb. 24 to April 12, he averaged 14.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 threes and 0.8 steals over 28.3 minutes per game. Part of that dip had to do with Bridges taking a back seat to the likes of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller. Bridges is slated to earn $22.8 million in 2026-27, which is the final year he is under contract with Charlotte.
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Hornets' Brandon Miller: Productive in third NBA season
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Miller closed with 14 points (5-10 FG, 4-7 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and two steals over 29 minutes during Friday's 121-90 Play-In Game loss to the Magic.
Miller played a key role in the Hornets' 127-126 overtime win over the Heat on Tuesday, though he was unable to replicate that success in Friday's elimination game. The 2023 first-rounder has established himself as a franchise cornerstone for the Hornets alongside LaMelo Ball and 2025-26 Rookie of the Year candidate Kon Knueppel. Miller ended the 2025-26 regular season averaging 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.1 threes, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks over 30.3 minutes per game. He has two years left on his rookie contract (including a $21.2 million qualifying offer for 2027-28), though Miller could earn a rookie max extension from the Hornets in the offseason.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Goes 1-for-6 from distance
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Knueppel recorded 13 points (5-13 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 2-3 FT), four rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes during Sunday's 114-99 loss to the Celtics.
Knueppel has been struggling from distance over the past two games, going just 4-for-16 from three-point territory. However, he'll have an excellent chance of snapping out of his mini-slump Tuesday with a favorable matchup against the Nets in Brooklyn.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Makes NBA history Thursday
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Knueppel registered 26 points (9-14 FG, 6-10 3Pt, 2-4 FT), 11 rebounds and eight assists over 37 minutes during the Hornets' 114-103 win over the Knicks on Thursday.
It was another strong performance out of the ROTY favorite, who connected on at least six triples for the ninth time this season and finished two assists short from registering the first triple-double of his NBA career. Knueppel's third three-pointer of the game was his 250th of the season, making him the only player age 22 or younger in NBA history to connect on 250 three-pointers in a season. The 20-year-old Duke product has been a key piece to the Hornets' resurgence this season, and since the All-Star break he has averaged 19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.9 threes and 0.8 steals over 29.7 minutes per game.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Good to go Tuesday
Rotowire
Knueppel (back) is available for Tuesday's game against the Kings.
As expected, Knueppel will shake off his probable tag due to lower-back soreness and suit up against the injury-plagued Kings. The rookie first-rounder is coming off a lackluster shooting performance in Saturday's win over the Grizzlies and will look to bounce back Tuesday. Over 10 March appearances, he has averaged 18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.2 triples in 29.9 minutes per contest.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Stays hot for Charlotte
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Knueppel totaled 24 points (7-13 FG, 5-8 3Pt, 5-5 FT), seven rebounds and three assists across 34 minutes during Wednesday's 117-109 win over Sacramento.
Knueppel continues to bolster his case in the Rookie of the Year Award race. The Hornets improved to 34-33 with this win, and Knueppel has been hot with 19.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 4.0 three-pointers over his last eight games.
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Hornets' Kon Knueppel: Nets 27 points with six triples
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Knueppel totaled 27 points (9-14 FG, 6-10 3Pt, 3-3 FT), two rebounds and four assists over 34 minutes during Friday's 128-120 loss to the Heat.
Knueppel was quiet through the first half of Friday's game, but he caught fire after halftime and scored 19 of his 27 points on 6-for-10 shooting in the second half. This was the rookie's eighth game of the season with at least six treys, and it was nice to see him dish out some dimes after failing to do so in his previous outing.
