While Dallas Mavericks star Cooper Flagg was the Duke star who received all of the hype entering the 2025 NBA draft, the No. 1 overall pick’s sharpshooting collegiate teammate, Kon Knueppel, should receive more attention.
Knueppel, whom the Charlotte Hornets selected with the No. 4 overall pick, has been a revelation for Charlotte as a 3-point-oriented wing, averaging 19.4 points per game on 49.1% from the field and 43.8% from 3.
While Knueppel still has a long way to go, not only in Year 1 but also the rest of his NBA career, a well-respected NBA legend believes he already poses a serious threat to Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry.
“He’s (Knueppel) winning Rookie of the Year,” Reggie Miller said on ‘The Dan Patrick Show’ Tuesday. “And dare I say this, dare I say this: Is Stephen Curry going to be a little nervous in about 15 years?”
“Just go back and look at Steph’s first two or three years, in terms of 3-pointers made, and what Kon has done this year. Just look at their first years. But here is the problem, you got to stay healthy — longevity. You’ve got to stay healthy. 17 years, 18 years for Stephen Curry. Can Kon Knueppel do that over a long period of time? I want to see it.”
While Knueppel is light-years behind Curry from a shot-creating/on-ball wiggle standpoint, the 20-year-old has already shown he can serve as a confident and reliable 3-point shooting specialist in the big leagues.
As Miller noted, though, longevity will be key for Knueppel, as Curry has terrorized defenders on the perimeter for nearly two decades, boasting a 42.3% career long-range shooting percentage.
Curry has also connected on over 4,000 triples since joining the NBA in 2009, separating himself from various other 3-point extraordinaires. Knueppel will certainly have his work cut out for him, but he’s on the right track to begin his NBA journey.
