Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel ignited a firestorm among NBA fans by including Victor Wembanyama in his All-Time Starting Five during a recent Topps feature. The young Hornets star, entering his second season after averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists as a rookie, selected Wembanyama alongside Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry. His reasoning centered on versatility, noting both Wembanyama and Duncan can guard multiple positions and contribute on both ends. Critics immediately pushed back, arguing Wembanyama has not yet earned a place among all-time greats despite his impressive rookie campaign with the Spurs. One fan called the inclusion disrespectful to legends like Shaquille O'Neal, while another challenged anyone to claim current Wembanyama surpasses three-peat Shaq in dominance. Supporters, however, praised Knueppel's vision, with one calling it the perfect all-time lineup and another saying someone with common sense finally recognized Wembanyama's trajectory. The Hornets recently beat the New York Knicks 110-96 on April 12, 2026, improving their recent form to 3-2 in their last five games. That win followed victories over the Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves, sandwiching losses to the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics. With LaMelo Ball now traded to Minnesota, Knueppel is expected to assume a larger offensive role and emerge as a primary leader for Charlotte moving forward.