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Forbes
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Kon Knueppel's Endearing Self Assessment Emphasizes What The Hornets Already Knew
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 20: Kon Knueppel was named the Summer League championship game MVP as ... More Charlotte Hornets team wins the championship game of NBA 2K26 Summer League against Sacramento Kings at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on July 20, 2025. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) Kon Knueppel was a Summer League standout. The Charlotte Hornets made him the fourth overall pick in this year's NBA Draft. The former Duke Blue Devil immediately showcased why the franchise should feel great about that decision. Knueppel helped lead the Hornets to a championship in Las Vegas. In the process, he earned a spot on the All-Summer League Second Team. The six-foot-seven forward averaged 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.2 steals. While Sin City statistics are the least important part of what a player demonstrates at Summer League, those numbers reflect Knueppel's all-around impact. However, even on the heels of a championship, he was hard on himself while giving Forbes his assessment of how his game grew in Las Vegas. "First game was rough, didn't play well," conveyed Knueppel. "But it's the NBA now, you have so many games, and I think [having] the next game, forget about what happened last game [mentality]. Even tonight, I didn't play very well. I didn't shoot it great at all, really, I had some bad turnovers, bad defensive plays, just next play, next play." That attitude will endear him to his new teammates, coaching staff, and people throughout the Hornets' organization. It captured an individual who has no interest in becoming content or complacent. Instead, a growth mindset fuels his drive to maximize his potential. The Hornets's message to Kon Knueppel Another sign of Knueppel's competitive character came in Charlotte's 109-80 Semifinal win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. He dove to the floor in pursuit of a loose ball. As he got a hand on it, the Wisconsin native crashed into Thunder guard Jazian Gortman's legs. That resulted in the latter inadvertently driving Knueppel's head into the hardwood. That resulted in five stitches to treat the cut above his eye. However, there was no way he was going to miss the Summer League Finals. "We had to fight a lot of people to get me on the floor today," voiced Knueppel after the Hornets captured the organization's first championship of any kind. "It wasn't necessarily from within the organization. It was a no-brainer for me. I just wanted to get out there and help the guys and get this done." While on the ESPN broadcast of Charlotte's title win, an 83-78 victory vs. the Sacramento Kings, head coach Charles Lee said of the situation, "My man's out here playing right now with stitches on the side of his eye, like come on. Just a warrior out there, which I absolutely love about him. And there was no way we were going to be able to keep him out of this game today." Knueppel's bench boss also spoke enthusiastically about the well-rounded nature of what Knueppel showcased in Las Vegas. "Always just trying to impact winning," said Lee. "I think that everyone sees what he can bring with the shooting, but I think he's an overall, really just solid competitor. Defensively, he's made a couple [of] great stops, I think so far here, and he communicates at a really high level. "And then, on top of shooting the ball, he's made the right pass play when he needs to. Defense collapse, he's throwing lobs, if he has to play off of two feet, he has some great footwork after the dribble as well." Knueppel told Forbes he appreciated his head coach returning to support their pursuit of a Summer League championship. He also shared the messaging he has received from Lee and the Hornets' coaching staff. "Charles came back tonight to watch us, which was pretty cool," said Knueppel. "They're watching for the right basketball plays, making the right reads; it's not necessarily about statistics or anything. But making the right plays, both sides of the floor, being in good positioning, those are the things that are important." To the delight of Lee and Charlotte's coaching staff, Knueppel displayed a good feel for the game and a high competitive character that fits perfectly with the culture they're working to establish in the Queen City. While he did so, he demonstrated the dynamic nature of his play, something that deserves more recognition than it receives. What the Hornets saw from Kon Knueppel at Summer League wasn't a revelation to them; it was the reinforcement of why they drafted him. It was the first step in validating that he will become a core member of their build toward a brighter future.
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Jonathan Kuminga draws sign-and-trade interest from Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings, delays Golden State Warriors deal
Jonathan Kuminga is confused about his next move (Image via Instagram / @jonathan_kuminga) One of the most talked-about topics in the NBA in recent days is Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga's upcoming summer move. Since he is a restricted free agent this summer, the team still has control over his future. However, he is now reportedly being pursued by several teams. According to reports, the Golden State Warriors have received "concrete" trade proposals for Jonathan Kuminga from the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings. The news was first made public by ESPN insider Shams Charania. Jonathan Kuminga seeks bigger role amid interest from Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Jonathan Kuminga is allegedly turning down offers from the Golden State Warriors. He added that the two teams vying for him at the moment are the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings. Over the past week, the Golden State Warriors have reportedly received formal sign-and-trade offers from both teams. About the same, the ESPN insider then said in an interview: 'I'm told the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings are two teams that have made concrete offers to the Warriors over the last week or so. They're two of the most aggressive teams…' He continued: 'He did tell me though that he is in absolutely no rush on doing a deal with the Warriors right now and he is not accepting their current offers.. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 11 Harry Potter Actors Who Grew Up Stunningly. The Noodle Box Read More Undo He added that he wants to continue to explore options. … Whether that's continuing conversations with the Warriors, but also sign-and-trade options that are available to him in the marketplace." Additionally, reportedly, the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings are the clubs making the offer since they have the potential to provide Jonathan Kuminga a starting position. This is something Charania stated that "he wants more than anything." Shams Charania further noted that the Golden State Warriors are not considering the offers made in sign-and-trades thus far. Unfortunately for the NBA player, the only way he is likely to leave Golden State this offseason is through a sign-and-trade. Jonathan Kuminga in action (Image via Instagram / @jonathan_kuminga) Being a restricted free agent, he now has three choices: sign an offer sheet with a rival team, play for the Golden State Warriors on a qualifying offer worth $7.9 million next season, or re-sign with the team on a new contract. The team has two options if Jonathan Kuminga signs an offer sheet from a rival team: match the offer sheet or let the gifted swingman to depart and negotiate a sign-and-trade. Meanwhile, he is now delaying his decision in favor of a bigger position, either with his previous team or somewhere else. Also read: The Phoenix Suns and the New York Knicks eye Darvin Ham for coaching staff shake-up For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Newsweek
a day ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Warriors' Steph Curry Gets Honest About Future Retirement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Steph Curry has been the face of the Golden State Warriors for years. Even at 37 years old, he is still playing at an elite superstar level and has shown no signs of slowing down. Last season, he was able to lead the Warriors to the playoffs once again. He led an upset in the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets, who were the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, he suffered a hamstring injury in the second round against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Following Curry's injury against the Timberwolves, Golden State was quickly eliminated in five games. Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates during the third quarter in game seven of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on April 30, 2023... Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates during the third quarter in game seven of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on April 30, 2023 in Sacramento, California. More Photo byAs time rolls on, the future has become a question mark for Curry. How much longer will he keep playing in the NBA? Read more: Former NBA Star Fires Shade at Spurs' Victor Wembanyama That is a question that he has started speaking out about. During a recent appearance with Complex, Curry opened up again about his NBA future. "I'm kind of just taking it in two-year chunks. I just want to be in a position where I've put myself in a position where I can say I've done everything I can," Curry said. "I'm not nowhere close to that." Fans will love to hear that news. Curry has become a fan favorite across the league. When he chooses to hang up his shoes and retire, it will be an incredibly sad day for the NBA. He also opened up about the most difficult part of the NBA grind for him these days. The offseason has become more difficult. "Mostly the offseason for me are the hardest than the like in season experience because once you get into the 82 games like it's repetition," he said. "You know what you need to do — practice, off days, you love playing and the games are the most fun... the games are so much fun. Like you get lost in the game. Like that's the easy part." Read more: Lakers' Marcus Smart Sends Bold Luka Doncic Message Throughout his 1,026-game career thus far, Curry has averaged 24.7 points per game to go along with 6.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. He has also shot 47.1 percent from the floor and 42.3 percent from the three-point line. Curry will play most of the 2025-26 NBA season at 37 years old. He will turn 38 on March 14 of 2026. Hopefully, he's able to stay healthy and continue his career on his terms. He sounds ready to play for at least two more years and possibly more past that. For more on the Golden State Warriors and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Detroit Pistons reportedly sign Colby Jones, former Wizards wing, on two-way deal
The Detroit Pistons have signed former Washington Wizards wing Colby Jones to a two-way contract, a source confirmed to the Free Press. Jones was drafted 34th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2023, following a three-year career at Xavier where he averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 50.9% overall and 37.8% from 3. The 6-foot-6 wing was considered by draft pundits as a versatile two-way player, capable of knocking down shots, making smart passing reads and defending across positions. MORE: What to do with Jaden Ivey among 3 Detroit Pistons offseason questions He played limited minutes with the Kings before being dealt to the Wizards in February, where he averaged 8.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals across 15 games. The Pistons finished last season with three two-way players under contract − Daniss Jenkins, Tolu Smith and Ron Harper Jr. Jones will replace Harper, who wasn't on the Pistons' summer league roster in Las Vegas as Jenkins and Smith shined. Follow the Pistons all year long with the best coverage at Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram (@detroitfreepress), TikTok (@detroitfreepress), YouTube (@DetroitFreePress), X (@freep), and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook (@detroitfreepress). Submit a letter to the editor at and we may publish it online or in print. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons reportedly sign former Wizards wing Colby Jones on two-way deal
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
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. 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. 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. 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.
