Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel is already one of the NBA's elite shooters, but his path to the league is anything but conventional. His record-setting rookie season, which saw him make 273 three-pointers, was born from an unlikely source: a Nintendo Wii. The Hornets are now building their future around him, a process that continues with a preseason matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on October 11 after a 90-124 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on October 6.
Kon Knueppel had zero interest in basketball as a kid. He grew up in a sports family, with his uncle Jeff Nordgaard having played 13 NBA games for the Milwaukee Bucks. That connection didn't spark anything. "We were starting to think he would be a non-athlete," Nordgaard said. Knueppel was more focused on academics, using a vocabulary that surprised his family. The turning point came when his parents bought a Nintendo Wii. Games like NBA Jam and NBA 2K introduced him to the sport's stars and its excitement. "I didn't like basketball before the Wii," Knueppel stated in a 2025 interview. "I fell in love with players. From there, I was passionate to find out as much as I humanly could about NBA players." That digital obsession led to a real one, including reading the 'Big Book of Basketball' ten times.
Knueppel's transition from gamer to gunner was spectacular. In his first NBA season, he sank 273 three-pointers. That total broke the all-time rookie record previously held by Keegan Murray. He also led the entire league in threes made during the 2025-26 campaign. His shooting prowess earned him a spot on the All-Rookie First Team. He finished a close second to Cooper Flagg in the Rookie of the Year voting. Those numbers instantly made him a foundational piece for the Hornets, especially after the franchise traded All-Star guard LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves this offseason.
The sophomore season brings high expectations and an immediate challenge. Knueppel suffered a left hamstring injury in practice, causing him to miss the preseason. He may not be ready for the season opener on October 26. The team's recent 90-124 preseason loss to the Brooklyn Nets on October 6 highlighted the offensive void his shooting fills. His health is the top priority for a franchise now centered on his development. With Ball gone, Knueppel will have the ball in his hands more often. The plan is for him to make a significant leap as a primary offensive option. Fans can track his return and the team's progress on our injuries page. The next test is a home preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks on October 11.
Knueppel's story is a modern basketball fable. A childhood spent with a Wii remote forged an NBA sniper who now carries the hopes of the Charlotte Hornets. His recovery and growth will define this new chapter for the team.
