Latest news with #KonKnueppel
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Kon Knueppel Continues Impressive Year With NBA Summer League MVP
Charlotte Hornets' Kon Knueppel celebrates after making a 3-point shot against the Sacramento Kings ... More during the second half of an NBA Summer League championship basketball game Sunday, July 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) During practices last summer entering his freshman season at Duke, Kon Knueppel emerged as one of the Blue Devils' most impressive players. Knueppel, a highly regarded prospect, was better than even the coaches and teammates expected. This month, Knueppel had a similar standout performance. On Sunday, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Summer League championship game after leading the Charlotte Hornets to the title over the Sacramento Kings. Knueppel scored a team-high 21 points in the final, including a deep 3-pointer with 32 seconds remaining that gave the Hornets a four-point lead. Knueppel, a 6-foot-7 forward, struggled in Charlotte's opener, making just 1 of 8 field goals, missing all 5 3-pointers and scoring 5 points. But in the final four games he played, he averaged 18.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. While most of the players in the Summer League won't likely be significant contributors in the NBA next season, Knueppel nonetheless stood out, as he has done in every step of his young career. The Hornets selected Knueppel fourth overall in last month's draft following an impressive season at Duke. Knueppel was second on the team in scoring (14.4 points per game) and made 47.9% of his field goals, including 40.6% on 3's, as well as 91.4% on free throws. Although Knueppel was overshadowed by fellow Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, the national player of the year and No. 1 pick in the draft, Knueppel proved to be a reliable second option on one of the best teams in recent years. Duke lost to Houston in the Final Four, blowing a nine-point lead with just over two minutes remaining, but the Blue Devils finished No. 1 in analyst Ken Pomeroy's rankings. Duke's 39.29 KenPom net rating was the second best since he started the ratings in the 1996-97 season. Knueppel showed he could play alongside Flagg and Duke's other talented players, including the three other starters who were selected in last month's draft: center Khaman Maluach (No. 10), guard Sion James (No. 33) and guard Tyrese Proctor (No. 49). Knueppel also proved that he could take over games as he did in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament when Flagg missed two-plus games with an ankle injury. With Flagg out, Knueppel was named the tournament's MVP, averaging 21 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. And in the NCAA tournament's East Regional, he averaged 20.5 points per game and had more plays run for him. 'I don't know if that was the plan going in or if I just got a hot hand early,' Knueppel said after Duke defeated Alabama in the Elite Eight. 'I just tried to step up in whatever role I need to do for the team.' Knueppel, who turns 20 on Aug. 3, will have the same attitude when the NBA regular season begins in October. Knueppel is likely to start at shooting guard alongside point guard LaMelo Ball, forwards Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges and center Mason Plumlee. Ball (25.2 points per game in 47 games), Miller (21.0 points in 27 games) and Bridges (20.3 points in 64 games) were Charlotte's top three scorers last season, while Plumlee, a former Duke player and 12-year NBA veteran, signed as a free agent earlier this month. The Hornets are coming off a season in which they went 19-63, the third-worst record in the NBA. They haven't made the playoffs since 2016 and haven't won a postseason series since 2002. As such, it will be a major change for Knueppel, who is accustomed to team success. He won a high school title as a senior in Wisconsin, leading his team to a 30-0 season, and the ACC regular season and tournament title this past season. Still, Knueppel gives the Hornets another young player to build around, joining Ball, the No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft who turns 24 next month, and Miller, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft who turns 23 in November. While the Hornets aren't likely to make a deep run in the playoffs next season, they at least now have some promising players who are eager to make the franchise relevant on the national stage.
NBC Sports
13 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Wrapping up NBA Summer League: Hornets win title, Utah's Kyle Filipowski named MVP
The 2025 Las Vegas Summer League is in the books. Let's put a bow on it with some end-of-the-summer notes. If you want to know who stood out to us, check out our review of the top players of Summer League, including Cooper Flag and Yang Hansen. Hornets take Summer League crown Only one team went undefeated in Las Vegas — and they won their games by an average of 14.2 points. Behind No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel, the Charlotte Hornets won the NBA Summer League crown, knocking off the Sacramento Kings in the championship game. Knueppel was named Summer League Championship Game MVP. NO. 4 PICK KON KNUEPPEL LEADS THE @hornets TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN VEGAS 🏆 🐝 21 PTS 🐝 5 REB 🐝 4 3PM#NBA2KSummerLeague Another standout in the title game was Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner, who was a defensive force throughout Summer League but added 15 points in the championship game. The Hornets having two rookies with strong showings in Summer League is a good sign for a developing team. Sacramento was in the title game thanks in part to strong play from rookie Nique Clifford in Vegas, but in the big game it was Isaac Jones putting on a show with 24 points and 11 rebounds. ISAAC JONES. WITH FORCE. #NBA2KSummerLeague Championship on ESPN! What does winning the Summer League portend for Charlotte's future? Probably nothing. On the positive side, the Lakers won Summer League in 2017 behind Kyle Kuzma and went on to win a title in 2020. Additionally, the Grizzlies won in 2019 and the Cavaliers in 2023, and both of those turned out to be quality teams. However, around those wins, the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and Miami Heat have also won Summer League, but haven't gone on to strike fear in the hearts of the league. Kyle Filipowski named Summer League MVP We listed Utah's Kyle Filipowski in the 'too good for Summer League' category for a reason. The Utah big man who came on at the end of last season played three games in Vegas and took home the Summer League MVP averaging 29.3 points a game on 56.1% shooting, including 39.1% from beyond the arc, and he grabbed 7.7 rebounds a game. Kyle Filipowski of the Utah Jazz is the #NBA2KSummerLeague MVP! 🔥 29.3 PPG 🔥 7.7 RPG 🔥 56.1 FG% 🔥 39.1 3P% He is going to get a lot more run for the Jazz next season. Duke had a good summer The Blue Devils love Las Vegas. The No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and the biggest draw in Las Vegas? Cooper Flagg. Summer League MVP? Kyle Filipowski. The 2025 NBA Summer League championship game MVP? Kon Knueppel. And the Blue Devils are stacked with elite talent next season as well, starting with Cameron Boozer. All Summer League Teams Utah's Filipowski and Sacramento's Clifford headline the All Summer League teams. The #NBA2KSummerLeague First Team! Nique Clifford Kyle Filipowski David Jones Garcia Jordan Miller Terrence Shannon Jr. The #NBA2KSummerLeague Second Team! Ron Holland II Isaac Jones Kon Knueppel Ajay Mitchell KJ Simpson
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Colorado star KJ Simpson wins NBA Summer League title with the Charlotte Hornets
Former Colorado basketball star point guard KJ Simpson concluded his second summer league stint with an NBA Summer League championship after the Charlotte Hornets beat the Sacramento Kings, 83-78. Simpson started for the Hornets along with Charlotte's 2025 first-round selection, former Duke guard Kon Knueppel. Despite the win, Simpson struggled offensively in the final but made up for it in other areas. In 31 minutes of action, Simpson tallied 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists on 4-of-15 shooting from the field and 1-of-6 from 3-point range. Knueppel, who was named the game's MVP, praised the former Colorado guard for being the Hornets' leader throughout the Summer League. Simpson was quick to point out that Knueppel was deserving of the award. "Kon, nah, he deserved that, man. He was excellent in this game," Simpson said. "We all played well. It [the MVP award] could have been anybody. I just wanted to go out there and help lead the team. Just be a good vocal leader. It was a team win, shoutout to Kon, shoutout to everybody, man. Simpson is entering his second year in the NBA and has shown significant growth during the 10-day summer event, averaging 16 points, 5.7 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game in six Summer League games. The Hornets have to like what they saw from Simpson, a former second-round pick, leading Charlotte's young core to a title. Simpson and the Hornets got the win over former Buff Nique Clifford, who scored 10 points in 33 minutes of action. Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado basketball KJ Simpson stats in NBA Summer League Final
Forbes
2 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Charlotte Hornets Go Undefeated, Win Las Vegas Summer League Title
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 20: Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles against Daeqwon ... More Plowden #29 of the Sacramento Kings in the first half of the 2025 NBA Summer League Championship game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Hornets defeated the Kings 83-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) Two years ago, the Charlotte Hornets won just one Las Vegas Summer League game and were deemed by many as one of the worst summer league squads in recent memory. Last night, the team finished its time in Vegas as undefeated champs going 6-0 against the competition and winning its first-ever summer league title against the Sacramento Kings 83-78. This year's team was led by the Hornets' 2025 draft picks in lottery pick Kon Knnuepel, first-rounder Liam McNeeley and second-round selection Ryan Kalkbrenner. Knnuepel won title game MVP after finishing the matchup with a game-high 21 points and a clutch three-point basket that stretched Charlotte's fourth quarter lead to four points. Over the Hornets last four matchups, Knnuepel averaged 18.3 points and featured promising upside as a shot creator off-the-bounce and around the basket. McNeeley was on a tear to start his Vegas campaign through the first two games averaging a promising 18.0 points per game before being shut down due to an Achilles injury. He went 6 of 14 from three while averaging 8 rebounds and 4 assists during that span. Kalkbrenner was a steady source of productivity for the Hornets inside. In the title game, he finished as the team's second-leading scorer with 15 points while nabbing nine rebounds and registering a block. Known for his defense as an NBA prospect, the seven-foot-one Creighton product swatted 10 shots through six games including a four-block performance against the Philadelphia 76ers. A surprise breakout star for the Hornets' summer league roster wound up being a former undrafted free agent that wasn't eligible to play in the title game due to inking a two-way contract with another team. Ex-Denver Nugget P.J. Hall averaged a staggering 24.2 points and 14.7 rebounds per 36 minutes with the Hornets which allowed him to land a two-way deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. Hall posted 11 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in a summer league victory versus the San Antonio Spurs and followed that up with an efficient 12 point and eight rebound showing against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Summer League Semifinals. Knueppel, McNeeley and Kalkbrenner are all expected to be key contributors for a Hornets team that will be aiming to make the playoffs for the first time this decade.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hornets' Kon Knueppel named MVP of NBA Summer League championship game
Kon Knueppel was named the MVP of the NBA Summer League championship game after leading the Charlotte Hornets to the title on Sunday in Las Vegas, Nevada. Knueppel produced a team-high 21 points, five rebounds and two assists in an 83-78 win over the Sacramento Kings at the Thomas & Mack Center. He went 8-of-21 from the field, including 4-of-11 from 3-point range, in 32 minutes of action. The fourth pick came up with a clutch 3-pointer and free throw in the final minute to hold off the Kings and help the Hornets claim their first title in the desert. Rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner added 15 points and nine rebounds while Jaylen Sims, KJ Simpson and DJ Rodman each had 11 points. Knueppel finished by averaging 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals on 40.6% shooting from the field in five appearances. He missed one game on the second night of a back-to-back to manage a prior ankle injury suffered during the predraft process. The soon-to-be 20-year-old has had a productive run this summer, showcasing himself at a high level in each appearance. He is a part of a stacked rookie class for the Hornets and has helped create plenty of anticipation heading into next season. The Hornets capped off their stay in Sin City with a 6-0 record. Knueppel and the group will look to carry their momentum, fresh off a title, into next season under second-year coach Charles Lee. This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Hornets news: Kon Knueppel named NBA Summer League title game MVP
