Hornets' Kon Knueppel Nears Return, Assigned To Practice With G League Affiliate On Thursday

The Charlotte Hornets announced on Thursday that forward Kon Knueppel has been assigned to the team’s G League affiliate in Greensboro, North Carolina for Thursday’s practice.

Though Knueppel is still listed as out for Friday’s matchup at the Washington Wizards, being assigned to practice with the Greensboro Storm is an encouraging sign that the second-year sharpshooter is nearing a return after missing the Hornets’ first five games of the season with a strained left hamstring.

Friday’s game is the first of a back-to-back for Charlotte, who hosts the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. So perhaps the team is waiting to play him at home or maybe his season debut will be Monday versus the Detroit Pistons.

Knueppel, 21, suffered the injury just over a month ago during what the Hornets termed “offseason on-court activity.” This occurred shortly before NBA teams reported for training camp, which Knueppel missed due to the hamstring strain along with the entire preseason.

Last season, Knueppel finished second in NBA Rookie of the Year balloting after challenging 2025 No. 1 overall pick and eventual winner Cooper Flagg by averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Selected No. 4 overall out of Duke in the 2025 NBA Draft, he led the league by making 273 3-pointers, shooting 43% on 673 attempts.

Knueppel helped the Hornets improve to 44-38 and a spot in the NBA play-in tournament as the No. 9 seed last season, turning around from the league's third-worst record at 19-63 in 2024-25.

However, after trading LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns, many NBA observers expected Charlotte to take a step back this season. Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor projected 36 wins for the Hornets and missing the playoffs.

Without Knueppel, Coby White (left calf strain) and Grant Williams (right hamstring strain), Charlotte is off to a decent start at 3-2 after Wednesday’s 97-89 defeat to the Pistons.

Brandon Miller leads the Hornets in scoring, averaging 25.6 points on 24 shots per game. Naz Reid, acquired in the Ball trade, is next at 17 points and 8.8 rebounds, but was benched for the second half against Detroit for “not meeting our standards,” according to head coach Charles Lee. Knueppel’s return will likely ease that burden eventually.