NBA insider ranks former Duke star as NBA's 'best deal' of 2025
Duke has been known to produce NBA talent, but no one expected this Duke lottery pick to emerge as one of the most efficient players in the league.
The Duke Blue Devils are known to produce superstar talent at the NBA level. However, coming out of college, no one expected Blue Devils' sharpshooter Kon Knueppel to perform the way he has for the Charlotte Hornets this season. Knueppel has excelled in his rookie campaign, averaging 19.
1 points, 5. 3 rebounds and 3. 2 assists on an incredible 43.
4% from three-point range. Not only that, Knueppel leads the NBA in three-pointers made (247). In a recent list from ESPN, NBA writer Zach Kram listed the Hornets choice to draft Knueppel as the best transaction by any team during the 2025-26 season.
Although he's battled with former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg for the Rookie of the Year award, Knueppel has been much more durable, playing in 71 out of 72 games thus far. Flagg has suited up with the Mavericks for 60 games, having been sidelined for an extended period in March with a foot injury. Additionally, the Hornets have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons, currently tied for eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 10 games remaining.