SeaMeasurement9 | Bucks

167 | 10 hours ago

ROTY? He‘s not just in the Konversation, he’s a top Kontender

Nuclearsunburn | Heat

36 | 9 hours ago

Kareful with your Ks

Dip_the_Dog | Wizards

37 | 8 hours ago

Not a fan? What’s wrong with being a member of the Kon Knueppel Klub?

OG_Wan_Annunoby | Raptors

10 | 8 hours ago

Triple Ks for short! Or…

ezp252 | Trail Blazers

4 | 7 hours ago

so you are a wizard of the kkk?

SkyCrossSteel

4 | 8 hours ago

So great that a player is getting the Mortal Kombat spelling treatment in some references, love it.

cricket9818 | Knicks

2 | 4 hours ago

Donkey Kong Country vibes

SeaMeasurement9 | Bucks

152 | 10 hours ago

This guy is really Kon Knueppel

JustinFields9 | Hornets

44 | 10 hours ago

If you see my username you will understand why I am so impressed with someone who can throw a ball accurately

WhoUCuh

9 | 9 hours ago

This guy is really King Kon

Motor-Platform-200

2 | 8 hours ago

King Kon Knueppel

BetweenTheBuzzAndMe | Charlotte Bobcats

120 | 10 hours ago

dude has championship level 2nd/3rd option and “advanced stat superstar” written all over him imo. I hope we get our shit together at some point on his rookie contract

Maxvexists | Magic

20 | 10 hours ago

Why not first option

BetweenTheBuzzAndMe | Charlotte Bobcats

60 | 10 hours ago

because there’s a lot more than amazing shooting that goes into being a championship level #1 option. He is a really really good off-ball player right now, who does a lot of his work on catching and shooting or off 1-2 dribbles.

BrucieAh | Heat

7 | 9 hours ago

That baseline of amazing historic level shooting means he has so much less work to do to do on all of the other skills.

ripkin05 | CHA

11 | 6 hours ago

look we’re hornets fans ok, we are a bit skittish about having nice things ok.

weeman2525 | Spurs

2 | 8 hours ago

Who’s to say he can’t develop better ball handling and shot creation?

BetweenTheBuzzAndMe | Charlotte Bobcats

19 | 8 hours ago

He definitely can, but I’m trying to be realistic here. There’s like 7 players in the whole league that can be a legit #1 on a title team. Usually those guys are evident from day 1.

MugsyTheSmokage | Spurs

8 | 8 hours ago

Is that really true? Would you have Kawhi, SGA, Curry, Giannis, and Jokic? I think they would be part of the seven (or at least they were a short while ago) and none of them looked evident on day 1

WTAP1 | Trail Blazers

6 | 7 hours ago

Teams might have been late realizing it, but I remember jokic showing promise right away. He got the Nuggets to move on from Nurkic who was talented and productive himself.

weeman2525 | Spurs

4 | 8 hours ago

For sure, you’re probably right, his ceiling is probably an elite off-ball shooter, but he’s already doing that as a rookie. I mean, who really knows? Maybe he puts the work in.

largehearted | Celtics

1 | 5 hours ago

Saying “championship level 1st-option” is tantamount to just MVP level player. They’re the same threshold.

Ok-Protection2513 | Hornets

38 | 10 hours ago

Guy is having a historic rookie season by every scoring metric and his own fanbase is putting a ceiling on him lol. First option is hard for anyone that isn’t an insane physical specimen but he generally proves anyone who doubts him wrong so I’m not writing anything off for him.

Decimate_2K | Hornets

21 | 10 hours ago

I don’t think OP meant to write him off necessarily as a first option, it’s just that him becoming a shai/jokic/giannis level player is significantly less likely than a top 10-15 player

Aidanator800 | Hornets

-6 | 9 hours ago

You don’t need to be a Shai/Jokic/Giannis type player to be a 1st option on a championship team, though. I mean, neither Jayson Tatum nor Jaylen Brown (depending on who you think was the 1st option on that 2024 Celtics team) are typically considered to be in the same tier as Jokic and Shai, yet they were able to do it.

lew-buckets | Australia

15 | 9 hours ago

JT was absolutely the first option and definitely up there with the top 5 guys in the league.

Decimate_2K | Hornets

4 | 9 hours ago

I was just naming clear cut #1 options, healthy JT is also in there too since he’s top ⁵⁄₆ when healthy

Double-Slowpoke

7 | 9 hours ago

Maybe! After Melo and Brandon Miller went down, Kon was basically the 1st option and he still kept his scoring and efficiency up. I still think Melo and Miller are our 1st and 2nd options, but Kon is way, way more efficient

PrideOfAmerica

1 | 5 hours ago

I think Kon has more potential as the second option unless Brandon gets his 3 back. Really Kon is playing better than miller ever was at younger age.

_AceHigh | Spurs

2 | 10 hours ago

Because there’s maybe 5 or 6 guys in the league at any given moment that could be the first option on a championship team

Kon’s special, but he ain’t that special

Ok-Caterpillar-9524

1 | 10 hours ago

He lacks the athleticism and length. There have been many times this season where they put the ball in his hands at the end of the quarter/shot clock and he’s not able to get a good shot off. He could potentially overcome this one day by having elite ball handling or shot creation but his athleticism will always be a limiting factor. I would never rule it out because he already has so much to his game and I would imagine improving his handling will be a top priority for the coaches and trainers. But as of now that’s not really his game.

Ld511 | Bulls

2 | 9 hours ago

Its really weird though,He is so elite at the key things he can after 30 games so surely he doesnt stop developing this early

Ok-Caterpillar-9524

3 | 9 hours ago

As they say, you can’t teach speed. And Kon will never have that or the length to just shoot over taller wing defenders. It’s always going to be a barrier to making the leap to elite first option. Not saying it’s not possible, just that it makes it very difficult.

I definitely see him as an elite shooter and a great passer. His defense is honestly solid. He’s already found ways to finish at the basket over taller, faster guys and his middy game is fantastic. But to be the first option on a championship team you have to be able to put the ball in that guy’s hands and he’s gotta score over great defenders. That’s always going to be tough with his physical limitations.

theovg28

-1 | 8 hours ago

Austin reaves doesn’t have speed or hops either. He can be a first option just fine. Kon needs to develop his handles like Reaves did.

WhoUCuh

2 | 9 hours ago

Trade for AD.

You can’t tell me a legit bigman wouldn’t make us a threat in the East especially with Miller coming back to form and Kon and Lamelo.

Decimate_2K | Hornets

11 | 9 hours ago

Sounds good in theory until you realize AD would sit half the games

clickstops | 76ers

2 | 4 hours ago

Yeah, Miller / AD wouldn’t get many games on the court together I fear.

labdabcr

2 | 9 hours ago

Miles bridges is untradeable with his baggage which mans we don’t have any player assets unless we are getting rid of lamelo.

WhoUCuh

1 | 9 hours ago

We have a few expiring for cap relief and picks.

dank-kush | Hornets

2 | 9 hours ago

Fuck no lol.

WhoUCuh

1 | 9 hours ago

Dank like being at the bottom.

dank-kush | Hornets

1 | 9 hours ago

Ur absolutely rushing it. Davis will not be worth what Dallas is asking for. I’d rather trade for a non injury prone center that actually matches the timeline. Ideally we should have never traded mark but I can also understand that he’s due for a payday soon and Jeff didn’t trust him long term.

WhoUCuh

2 | 9 hours ago

That’s the problem AD is 32 and injury prone they are not getting this crazy offer for a aging superstar.

We can afford to trade a few picks. 1 of those picks wouldn’t even be ours it’s Dallas pick we just giving it back.

So in reality we would be trade expirings and our 27 1st.

Our core is still intact except we adding a serious big who can still play at a high level.

You can totally build around Kon/Miller. What is the gamble here?

dank-kush | Hornets

2 | 8 hours ago

The gamble here is miller Lamelo and ad all missing extended time. Those two are healthy for like a week and suddenly you think their bones will never break again? You cannot compete with that many injury prone guys it’s the whole reason we traded mark.

WhoUCuh

1 | 8 hours ago

That’s a risk im willing to take.

Load manage both throughout the season. Just get them to the playoffs and hope for the best.

dank-kush | Hornets

1 | 8 hours ago

Brother what the hell are you on about. Load managing is for teams who are that good and able to get similar production from backups. A team like the hornets needs everyone healthy just to make the play ins.

WhoUCuh

1 | 8 hours ago

Br patient Kon and Miller will be leading us moving forward. This trade isn’t just about this year. It’s adding a legit vet piece and someone who can play a winning style of basketball.

Every young team needs a vet who can still play.

Jimm120 | Knicks

-3 | 9 hours ago

a big problem is that Lamelo still plays like he’s doing streetball. I know he’s “good at making those bad shots” but it feels like he purposely takes the bad shot option when he doesn’t need to

BetweenTheBuzzAndMe | Charlotte Bobcats

6 | 8 hours ago

His reputation is following him more than anything. He’s pulled back quite a bit on the crazy shots now that he actually has weapons, and the choices aren’t:

crazy shot
pass to Bridges
pass to Josh Green

like they were last year

Melo is really good at finding shooters and his chemistry with Kon is already up there.

Jimm120 | Knicks

-1 | 7 hours ago

i’m basing most of it on the knicks games. He had quite a few shots where I was like, “why is he shooting it like this when he wasn’t being pressured to take it like that”.

heat_fan_ | Raptors

34 | 10 hours ago

Hornets got a good one

This years rookie class in general is insane

Lobster15s | Heat

10 | 10 hours ago

VJ is a great one his stats have only dropped because he’s playing behind so many people.

Main_Pop_7565

-8 | 9 hours ago

Kon vs VJ is such an interesting conversation. Because Kon is a superior shooter in all account, but VJ is a clutch player that will win you games. I always wonder how they would perform if they switched teams

Decimate_2K | Hornets

18 | 8 hours ago

Kon has hit a ton of clutch shots this year

Main_Pop_7565

-7 | 7 hours ago

True but VJ is top 30 clutch shooter in the league and has had 2 game winner. It’s not the same

MagicalHurdles | Nets

30 | 10 hours ago

Kon is about to obliterate the most 3pt made by a rookie record. Roty

AcanthocephalaSad541 | Heat

16 | 9 hours ago

He’s on pace for a top 25 3pfgm per game season ever lol

Remote-Whole-6387 | Hornets

1 | 5 hours ago

He hit 100 3s faster than anyone by 12 games.

asonkidd

21 | 10 hours ago

I don’t really know what to do with him in terms of ceiling because history suggests if he keeps this up he’s joining allstar/hof company and I’m not sure I’m ready to accept that.

Ld511 | Bulls

8 | 9 hours ago

He is a 1 year guy as well so its not like he came in super ready. His athleticism not being elite and not having a ton of size would usually limit him to a good 2nd 3rd option but he kinda is that already lmao

bigtuck54 | Hornets

1 | an hour ago

If you told me at the draft that this is the sort of player he’d be one day I’d be ecstatic, but I’d never in a million years believe this is where he’d be at in December of his rookie season. I have no idea where his ceiling ends but he just keeps getting better

Licit_x64 | Hornets

3 | 8 hours ago

Conversely I don’t see him regressing either barring injury because he’s not making hero ball plays week after week. His floor is absolutely absurd. He can play his game for a very long time since he basically just uses his frame to get to his spots on minimal dribbles. Anything added to his game from this point forward is just going to increase his superstar chances. But a championship team second/third option seems like the trajectory to me right now.

TheMoorNextDoor | Nets

2 | 8 hours ago

Keith Van Horn with less athleticism and a much better shot from midrange and 3 point line.

Or

Klay Thompson with less athleticism and defensive capability but a very similar shot ability.

Literally either way they can’t lose with these comparisons.

Western-Election-997 | Lakers

0 | 8 hours ago

I can definitely see him making allstar soon

Carlinjamesgk

11 | 10 hours ago

Though he doesn’t look like your prototypical star - he is going to be a star

Licit_x64 | Hornets

8 | 8 hours ago

The photo of the entire Hornets team in his living room for Thanksgiving cracked me up. This dude is a rich suburban white kid with like 6 siblings. 0 reason to have the drive/work ethic to go become an elite nba player, and he did. Pretty cool.

SDK04 | Raptors

8 | 10 hours ago

I never expected this kinda run from Kon ngl, feels like everyone’s low ceiling predictions for him ended up being completely wrong so far.

sobanoodle-1 | Knicks

6 | 10 hours ago

I’m going to see him and Wemby at the end of January. I’m going to cry man

Decimate_2K | Hornets

3 | 10 hours ago

Same, Im going to Hornets vs Spurs on the 31st lol

shadysnorlax

-3 | 8 hours ago

Both will probably be injured and then you’ll really cry.

sobanoodle-1 | Knicks

2 | 7 hours ago

I’m not entertaining someone who still plays 2k

LetsgoRoger | Hornets

6 | 10 hours ago

LaMelo had 27/5/5 on 69/70/100 shooting splits or 97.3% TS

Zeeron1 | Thunder

15 | 10 hours ago

Lamelo averaged 21/8/4 on 43/45/86 in 9 games during December lol what

dank-kush | Hornets

17 | 10 hours ago

He’s talking about today which I have no idea how it relates to the post lol

Pumpkinmatrix | Hornets

3 | 10 hours ago

People are bad at comparisons and how things relate to one another.
“Hey I recognize that ##/##/## pattern and I saw this one!”

drakeorjosh

9 | 10 hours ago

And y’all lost 😂. Can’t wait til you guys get a legit center cuz your games are so fun to watch with this roster.

labdabcr

4 | 10 hours ago

Please jayden quaintance

MVPRondo | Cabo Verde

4 | 10 hours ago

They need like a Mark Williams type big or something. They never get guys like that!

alpacamegafan | Spurs

6 | 10 hours ago

Not very smart to rely on Lamelo, Miller, and Williams to all play games together as your cornerstone starters.

gargoyleboy69 | Bulls

-5 | 10 hours ago

Still under the unpopular opinion that Charlotte should sell high on Miller while people are still fooled and clouded by the anti-LaMelo noise. Imagine all of Miller’s shots being given to a more efficient, lesser usage, stronger, physical player like Lauri.

If Charlotte were to ever swap a package that includes Miller & Miles for a package that brings back Lauri it’d make the team so much more dynamic. Add a cheap frontcourt defender like Vanderbilt for a pick and salary and that’s a totally different team just off of 2 players.

A move that’d remind me of Pacers fans that didn’t want to make a move for Siakam because of their promising young offense. Look what happened after.

labdabcr

3 | 9 hours ago

Miller fits the timeline and nobody is trading for miles bridges he has negative value with that baggage.

Ok-Protection2513 | Hornets

3 | 10 hours ago

Mark is a terrible defender so not really sure what your point is here lol

Ok-Caterpillar-9524

2 | 10 hours ago

No they need a center who’s not a traffic cone and will still be on the court come May.

FFElite93 | 76ers

6 | 10 hours ago

Mini klay thompson

Not_Different | Hornets

5 | 9 hours ago

Mega Klay Thompson

lialialia20 | Timberwolves

0 | 9 hours ago

but better

Western-Election-997 | Lakers

5 | 8 hours ago

I gave him a vote for allstar game, he won’t make it up still I think he deserves a few votes

likpoper | Trail Blazers

3 | 10 hours ago

He is a stud

PatchAFC | Celtics

2 | 10 hours ago

Kwon Knueppel in the thumbnail

kingfosa13 | Washington Bullets

2 | 10 hours ago

i’m tired of ppl pretending jim and flag are close offensively because they get the same number of points

Both-Yak5352

2 | 9 hours ago

He’s currently 3rd in the league in total 3s made, and 5th in 3s made per game. And he’s shooting 3s above 43.2%. Pretty incredible for a rookie. Would be fascinating to see what his ceiling is and if he can create his own shot. Either way he’s a fantastic pickup for the Hornets.

Specific_Tale_1640

2 | 7 hours ago

Best efficiency shooting season for a rookie all time.

420_69_Fake_Account

1 | 10 hours ago

I’m in the Kon Knueppel Klan!

dank-kush | Hornets

1 | 10 hours ago

As soon as I heard his mom and dad both held scoring records at their respective colleges and they had like 5 kids who all hoop I knew he was him 😂

Bobblefighterman | Jazz

1 | 10 hours ago

It’s like that scene in Talledaga Nights when they chat with Larry Bird

judah249 | West

1 | 7 hours ago

Kon looking a little thicker and tanner than usual

o1ze | Raptors

1 | 5 hours ago

Free the Knueppel

TwoTalentedBastidz | Lakers

1 | 5 hours ago

Now show his defensive low lights like yall do Luka

Remote-Whole-6387 | Hornets

1 | 4 hours ago

I truly love this man.

vladimir_pimpin | Nuggets

0 | 7 hours ago

Kon kneuppel got fat

Jimm120 | Knicks

-7 | 9 hours ago

I’ve only seen him play ONE game and he sucked hard that game (vs the knicks).

maybe he’s good, though

Six2L8

3 | 7 hours ago

Great insights.

Kon Knueppel wraps up December scoring 21 ppg on 50/46/90 shooting splits or 66% TS