Earlier in the week while discussing the field for the 3-point shooting contest at the NBA’s 2026 All-Star festivities in Los Angeles, Kon Knueppel must’ve had an inkling.
Sure, the Charlotte Hornets rookie understood he was up against the likes of Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell and Phoenix’s Devin Booker. However, of all the people that came to mind, the first name that rolled off Knueppel’s tongue was Portland star Damian Lillard.
“Dame’s in it,” Knueppel said. “He hasn’t played in the game all year, so that was a little bit of a surprise to me, but he’s one of the all-time great 3-point shooters.”
Turns out Lillard, along with Booker, was indeed tough to beat.
Knueppel finished third behind Lillard and Booker to kick off All-Star Saturday night at the Intuit Dome. His final-round score of 17 wasn’t enough to get it done against Lillard (29) and Booker (27).
Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets shoots a 3-pointer during the State Farm 3-Point Contest during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome. Ronald Martinez Getty Images
Lillard, invited to be a part of the festivities despite not playing all season while recovering from a torn Achilles, joined Craig Hodges and Larry Bird as the lone only players to win the event three times.
“Yeah, it’s cool,” Knueppel told The Charlotte Observer in a phone interview afterward. “I’m glad I got to shoot twice. But obviously, a little disappointed. Would have wanted the win.”
A hot opening round catapulted Knueppel into the final session.
Unfazed as the first shooter of the event — and the first player introduced to the masses — Knueppel scorched the nets to the tune of 27 points. He beat out Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, Mitchell of Philadelphia, Denver’s Jamal Murray, Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis Jr. and Miami’s Norman Powell to reach the championship round.
“It was kind of fun to kind of set the tone right away for a score, get out there,” Knueppel said. “But it did kind of bite me in the (behind) as I had to sit down for 30 minutes for that second round. Got a little cold, but it was pretty fun to get out there.
Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets and Team Cameron reacts after a shot during the Kia Shooting Stars during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome. Ryan Sirius Sun Getty Images
“I probably should have got up and stretched a little bit, moved around. But yeah, that was part of the issue. Otherwise, just make shots.”
Knueppel’s performance in the 3-point contest preceded his participation in the Shooting Stars on Team Duke with Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson and former Blue Devil Corey Maggette. That came a day after he suited up as a member of Team T-Mac coached by Tracy McGrady in the Rising Stars.
Toss in an appearance at the NBA’s tech summit with good buddy and fellow Duke product Cooper Flagg on Friday, and it was quite the whirlwind for the 20-year-old.
“It was cool,” Knueppel said. “Cool to get down here and I’m glad I got to experience it. And I’m looking forward to a little bit of off time, get rested and get ready to go for the rest of the season.”
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly. Support my work with a digital subscription
In case it wasn’t already obvious this wasn’t just another night, as evidenced by the extra table at midcourt with the logo of a well-known cable television entity, the sight of Kon Knueppel chatting with broadcast talent cemented it.
The Charlotte Hornets rookie sensation was surrounded by Tim Legler and Richard Jefferson less than an hour before the opening tip, discussing hoops while a pair of cameras recorded their every move. Those are the kinds of things that typically transpire when ESPN is in the house, something that hadn’t happened in uptown in nearly half a decade.
Charlotte Hornets forward/center Moussa Diabate, left, turns to confront Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen after Allen held onto Diabate’s arm on a shot in the lane during action at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. The Cavaliers defeated the Hornets 94-87. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
“Yeah, we’re really excited to be able to play the ESPN game,” coach Charles Lee said. “It’s one of those moments where a lot of people talk about our story, and I think now we get to actually show our own story and our performance can do the talking for us.
“… A phenomenal opportunity for our organization, our players. They earned it, they deserve it. This will be the norm because I know that we’re just going to get better and better, and people are going to want to see us on TV more.”
If so, the Hornets can’t come out with the kind of lethargic performance that was on display in the opening quarter of their 94-87 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Spectrum Center.
Porous defense, rough shooting and an overall inability to match the intensity of their opponent did the Hornets in before most of the 17,619 patrons in attendance had settled into their seats. Not exactly the best of images to portray in the Hornets’ first outing on ESPN since April 25 — and first home ESPN matchup with fans in the stands since the 2018-19 season finale against Orlando. They played on ESPN in 2021 during the pandemic before an empty arena.
“Yeah,” Knueppel said. “We’re bummed that we lost the game.”
With the way they were shredded by Cleveland, it looked like the Hornets’ body clocks were still on the Pacific and Mountain time zones. Only netting 32 points through the initial two quarters rendered the game essentially over prior to the halftime dance-off between some fraternities and sororities of historically black universities.
Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee, left, speaks with guard Sion James during action against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Minus star guard LaMelo Ball in the opening lineup, the Hornets just didn’t have it from the get-go. Sion James started at point guard while Ball came off the bench, keeping in line with the team’s goal to maximize his availability as much as possible whenever the Hornets are in the midst of games on consecutive nights.
With the Hornets’ road date with the Orlando Magic on Thursday night, Ball’s availability was preserved after logging 22 minutes against the Cavaliers. He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, misfiring on all but one of his 15 shots from the field and failing to connect on any of his 10 attempts beyond the 3-point arc.
Lee said, “I thought that regardless of the shooting numbers … he continued to try to like scrap and claw defensively. His engagement was there, was really good offensively taking some good shots, trying to find his rhythm, playing pick-and-roll. But then I thought he also tried to get on the offensive glass a couple times.
“I think for the most part he continued to try to play through it and not let his shot making or shot missing dictate the energy he was going to give to the game and tried to impact the game in other ways.”
It’s obvious that the Hornets miss Ball at the game’s outset, though. In assessing what went wrong in the early going against the Cavaliers, Knueppel admitted there’s a period of adaptation as they maneuver through the lineup change.
“It’s a little different with Melo coming off (the bench),” Knueppel said. “It’s a little bit of an adjustment. We’re trying to manage his minutes here in the back-to-backs, but I don’t know if that has anything to do with that.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, right, lowers his head as he penetrates into the lane against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson during action at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. The Cavaliers defeated the Hornets 94-87. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
“I think we just got to be sharper. Like I’ve said before, just a lot of controllable stuff on our end. We need to take care of both defensively and then just moving the ball and playing with pace offensively.”
Brandon Miller has his theory on how to make it all work a bit smoother.
“When he comes back in the game, just be more aggressive,” Miller said. “Kind of get him going, get everybody else going. That’s the head of the snake, so his word goes a long way in the locker room with us. So, just having that trust like that, putting our trust in Sion to come in and start games for us, is big as a team.”
Eventually, the plan for Ball will be altered. Just not right now.
“Yeah, I’ve been really happy with it so far,” Lee said. “I think our performance staff, (VP of medical and performance) Pat Chasse kind of leading that group, has done a really good job of getting all the data, tracking how he’s responding to workload. And I think that Melo has done a really good job of being open-minded and understanding how this is going to look different on a back-to-back from a regular night and where those minutes are.
“And I think our team has adjusted well, too, knowing that sometimes he’s not going to start, and sometimes he’s going to start. But I think that the overall goal, again, is always to just maximize him and his availability, and we’ve seen a great trend right now of how his body is responding. I think we’re seeing a great trend of his actual play and as time continues to go on, we will keep evaluating it.”
Which includes possibly increasing Ball’s on-court time.
“No, I don’t think that it’s going to be a hard (stop) at this number,” Lee said. “Right now it will continue to progress and where those numbers are will depend on Melo’s response to the workload, and then also I think some of the stuff that he just does with our performance staff.”
Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams, left, pushes off Cleveland Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter during action at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. Williams was called for a foul on the play. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Perhaps then the Hornets could be that much closer to boasting full strength, finally having the complete roster at their disposal. Then, maybe results like the performance they put in against the Cavaliers will decrease, providing them with more chances to have the uptown skyline lit up in teal for a national telecast.
“I think that when we’re playing these games, people always say it’s cool playing on TV and stuff like that,” said Grant Williams, who made his 2025-26 home debut. “But we have an opportunity every single night to compete at a high level, and that’s all we can focus on, ESPN game, non-ESPN game, and in these moments, this is something that we should hopefully get used to because this team’s developing, this team’s growing.
“And as the more games that we win, as the more competitive that we get, the more opportunities we’ll have like this.”
This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 10:03 PM.
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly. Support my work with a digital subscription
Some 24 hours before taking the floor at Fiserv Forum on Friday night, Knueppel spent some time at his alma mater, Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, being presented with a framed Duke jersey that will hang somewhere on the campus grounds.
Just add it to the honors that keep piling up for Knueppel.
Prior to pouring in team-best 26 points in the Hornets’ 122-121 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks — which ended with Brandon Miller unable to convert a driving layup at the buzzer — Knueppel was named the Eastern Conference rookie of the month for December, marking the second straight month he’s earned the distinction and becoming the sixth player in Hornets franchise history to earn more than one rookie of the month selection.
It’s thanks in part to Knueppel pacing all rookies in points per game in December at 19.3, and him being one of two rookies — joining former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg — with three games of at least 30 points.
He leads all rookies in made 3-pointers (117) as well as 3-point percentage at 43.2. Throw in becoming the fastest player in NBA history to reach 100 career 3-pointers made, along with breaking the rookie record of Charlotte’s prodigal son Stephen Curry for most games with 20 or more while making at least 50% from the field, 40% beyond the arc and 90% from the free throw line.
Against the Bucks, Knueppel put up 10 points in the opening quarter, which included draining a 3-pointer to increase his streak of made 3-pointers to 15 straight games.
Even with all that, Knueppel’s presence on the defensive side has Lee’s attention.
“I’m not surprised by how competitive he is on that end of the floor,” Lee said, “but I am impressed with the impact he’s had as a primary defender on certain guys, Doesn’t shy away from any matchup and just his overall basketball IQ, I think he brings physicality defensively, allows him to be so impactful.
“So, that’s one of the areas where I definitely feel in the NBA, you get so focused on scoring and you need more guys valuing trying to get stops possession after possession. And all that goes into it and he’s one of those guys. So, to have more Kons in a group, I think it starts to become more contagious with the rest of the team.”
Here’s what else the Hornets (11-23) had to say of note in Milwaukee:
Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets was named the Eastern Conference rookie of the month for December. Mitchell Leff Getty Images
On the game overall:
“I thought our guys competed their tails off,” Lee said. “I thought there were some stretches where we could have taken complete control of the game. Credit to our players for starting the year off with a competitive spirit and playing a team like that with so many offensive weapons. We had to do a lot of things differently to kind of throw them off and try to break their rhythm. And I thought we did a pretty good job.
“Offensively the ball movement is still there, the ability to play a lot of different lineups. So credit to our team for their competitiveness and open-mindedness.”
Knueppel said: “Just a couple of (more) plays. You’ve got to get a stop at the end of the game, No. 1, then we got a good look at the end of the game. There’s a lot of little plays in between, a couple of possessions with turnovers in a row. Can’t have those.”
On teaching points from game’s closing seconds:
“Defensively, how we are a little tighter there with our coverage at the end of the game to not allow that lob,” Lee said. “And I thought we executed both of our game plans pretty well. Obviously, scored on a Miles (Bridges’) bucket on a back pick, and the second play got a decent look for Brandon. But we can be a little bit better.”
On what PJ Hall, who made his first career start, brings:
“I think just his overall versatility,” Lee said. “As a ‘5’ he’s able to stretch the floor I think a little bit more than some of the other bigs we have right now, that different pitch we can throw having him in the game. Defensively, he has the ability to be able to play two different styles of pick-and-roll defense, which we are interested to see if we can kind of tap into that and add to his versatility and his tool box.
“But overall I just think that he can give us something different than some of our other bigs can give us.”
On Pat Connaughton:
“Pat’s been very huge for our overall environment, our culture, our daily habits,” Lee said. “He’s obsessed with just trying to keep getting better. Even as many years as he’s been in the league, he’s trying to find a way to get onto the court and be impactful and change his game and evolve, so I appreciate that, and I appreciate his vocal leadership. He’s seen so many things.
“This is his third different team — Portland, Milwaukee and now with us — and he’s been around some very good players in (Damian) Lillard and (Giannis) Antetokounmpo and (Kris) Middleton, (Jrue) Holiday. The list goes on and on. So, he understands what it takes to be successful individually and as a team and he’s not afraid to speak on it. It’s been really helpful I can tell whenever he speaks up in a huddle or a film session guys are all eyes and ears.”
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly. Support my work with a digital subscription
Understanding it was the final appearance together before Christmas and knowing they wouldn’t see each other for at least 24 hours, the Charlotte Hornets still weren’t in the gift-giving mood Tuesday night.
Instead, they doled out a lump of coal to the Washington Wizards.
After turning the ball over far too often in their previous two games, leading to losses, the Hornets took much better care of it against the Wizards. They rode the coattails of an efficient second half fueled offensively by star guard LaMelo Ball and committed a season-low five turnovers, upending Washington 126-109 at Spectrum Center.
With only two days left until Christmas, a young Hornets fan holds a homemade “Merry Swishmas” sign during the game against the Wizards on Tuesday at Spectrum Center. Hornets fans received an early gift with a 126-109 win over the Wizards. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com
“We played a couple of physical teams the last two games, and I thought we kind of got knocked back by their physicality,” Kon Knueppel said. “I wouldn’t say the Wizards play as physical as the Detroit Pistons or the (Cleveland) Cavs, but I also just thought that we did a good job of playing at our pace and making smarter decisions with the basketball.
“Obviously five total turnovers, it’s pretty good. So we’ll live with that.”
Break up the Hornets, who’re now immersed in their most impressive stretch of the season. They’ve won half of their past dozen games and are creeping up in the Eastern Conference standings, elevating to 12th place. That leaves them currently 3.5 games behind the final play-in tournament spot currently occupied by the Chicago Bulls.
“Yeah, we’re just going to take one game at a time, compete and try to get a win every night,” Knueppel said. “And going forward, I think if we play our brand of basketball and play the way we want to play, we’re going to have a good chance to do that.”
Exactly what’s gotten into the Hornets (10-20) of late? Their head coach has his reasoning.
“I think some of it’s our defensive intensity,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said. “I feel like our defensive continues to get better. The games that we win, our defensive rating is usually in a really good spot. And then offensive, I feel like ever since the game at Brooklyn, we’ve done such a better job of trusting the pass, playing the pass.
“I come up here a lot of games now and I’m talking about how many assists we had on how we made field goals. And it’s a testament to our overall pace. But also guys getting out of screens, our execution in the half court and our execution in the early offense is really good.”
Here are some of the key takeaways from the Hornets’ third win in their past five games:
Welcome back Collin Sexton
That revolving door remains ajar.
Keeping in tune with the usual theme, the Hornets welcomed back one face while having to see another planted on the bench in street clothes — Ryan Kalkbrenner — due to injury. Collin Sexton hadn’t played since coming up gimpy in New York during their Dec. 3 loss to the Knicks, nursing a left quadriceps strain.
Although no one sounded the proverbial alarm at the time, Sexton wound up being sidelined for seven games, putting a dent in the Hornets’ guard depth. But Lee finally had him at his disposal again, summoning the eighth-year pro into the rotation in the first quarter after initially going to Tre Mann to spell Ball.
Hornets guard Collin Sexton loses control of the ball while driving to the basket during the game against the Wizards on Tuesday at Spectrum Center. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com
Sexton’s numbers in his return won’t blow anyone away — he posted 12 points in 16 minutes — but his imprint can’t always be measured in statistics.
“Just his overall energy and his passion for the game,” Lee said. “We always talk a ton around here about competing and what that looks like. And you can compete in a lot of different ways, but Colin just never stops. I think defensively and offensively, he’s always thinking about how can I win every possession and how can I be impactful in every possession.
“I love the boost that he gave us from a spirit and a competitiveness standpoint. Defensively, he crawls up into guys. He gets a deflection on like one of his first defensive plays where he’s about to blow up a screen, which really helped us because I thought their off ball movement was hurting us a bit.”
.Despite Miller knocking down only 38.8% overall and 32.7% from 3-point land, the concern level remains low. Miller, who went 8-for-16 against the Wizards, hit half of his attempts or better in two of his previous five games.
It’s a small sign of progress.
“I would say some of the shooting numbers will improve with more time back at the on the court,” Lee said. “I do think sometimes he’s had some shots that are short, which just shows me some of that’s your conditioning and how you’re coming back to the rhythm of the game, having to play intense defense. I think that he has stepped up his defensive mindset, wanting to take on some of the better matchups of the other team.
“I think that we’re seeing his legs get up underneath him. He’s been scoring at a lot higher clip and I think that offensively I’ve just seen him actually develop a more all-around game. We know how much he can score. I’ve been really impressed with how much he’s been passing and finding guys and picking roles or finding guys on his drives and then he’s had some explosive finishes at the rim that show that he’s starting to find his rhythm.”
Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is held back by a teammate as he reacts after being pushed off the court by Wizards’ guard Kyshawn George during Tuesday’s game at Spectrum Center. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com
Ryan Kalkbrenner not center of attention
That’s two straight games missed by Kalkbrenner. The rookie center had been available for all but one outing prior to sitting out the Hornets’ last two matchups, so he’s really hurting.
Originally listed as questionable against the Wizards before being downgraded two hours prior to tipoff, Kalkbrenner is dealing with a sprained left elbow. His status for Friday’s game in Orlando is uncertain.
“Just obviously got back late (Monday) night and so (Tuesday) was another day for him to come in and get some evaluation and treatment,” Lee said. “Sounds like he’s still just trying to figure out what the plan is going to be for him to return to play. I think after (Tuesday), we’ll have a little bit of a clearer idea of what’s going on with him.”
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly. Support my work with a digital subscription
Charlotte Hornets guard Brandon Miller, right, reacts to a no call following a shot attempt during action against the New York Knicks at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
JEFF SINER
jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Akin to finding a genie lamp and rubbing it for a few wishes, someone asked Charles Lee what he hoped to witness in the final hours of Thanksgiving Eve.
Given the Charlotte Hornets coach actually had his projected starting lineup of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Ryan Kalkbrenner healthy for once, allowing him to trot them out against the New York Knicks to open the game for just the fourth time this season, Lee had a vision.
“I would love to come out and set a defensive tone,” Lee said. “I think that it’s really important for us to bring a level of physicality to this Knicks team. We know how good they are offensively, we know who their creators are and I would love to see on that end of the floor like that group especially set a tone for us as a starting unit.”
Didn’t happen, though.
Perhaps inspired by the holiday, the Hornets got into the festivities. Just in the wrong way. They allowed the Knicks to carve them up like a turkey, yielding far too many easy buckets in a 129-101 loss at Spectrum Center on Wednesday night.
In dropping their seventh straight game, the Hornets were also eliminated from advancing out of opening stage of this year’s Emirates NBA Cup. They’ve yet to win in three attempts this season, with the fourth and final outing coming Friday against Chicago.
Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee, left, speaks with guard Collin Sexton during action against the New York Knicks at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. The Knicks defeated the Hornets 129-101. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
The calendar hasn’t even flipped to December, yet the 2025-26 campaign is already slipping away from the Hornets, and they are fully aware of the cavernous hole they are digging themselves.
“We can’t keep talking about it, we can’t keep talking about it,” Collin Sexton said. “Like you always say, actions speak louder than words. And it’s time, it’s time for us to lock in and look ourselves in the mirror and (say), ‘How can I be better for the team, how can I get impact, meaning in which way?’ We’ve got to do it together. But it starts with looking at yourself in the mirror and how can I be better and understanding that it’s not going to be always good.
“You might have good days, you have bad days. But the one thing we can do is compete and shoot. If you go out fouling, go out swinging and the score is 0-3, then oh well. We’ve got to be more together, but also more competitive.”
Mentally, the Hornets (4-14) just have to be tougher.
Chatter is good and all, but this is a bottom-line business. Constantly chirping about what will eventually happen will soon fall on deaf ears and the fans will tune out, turned off by another disappointing season.
That’s why the Hornets must heed Lee’s postgame message.
“Think about the words that we say every day and try to find a way to actually have some action to follow up those words, because I think that we talk about the right things,” Lee said. “We are preparing ourselves in the right way. But now the action has to follow, and you have to be able to sustain it for a whole game.
“Embrace the adversity that comes with the game. The foul trouble, the different rotations, the different coverages. But you’ve still got to dig down and figure out what it’s going to take to just impact winning on both ends of the court throughout the whole game.”
Things got so bad against the Knicks (11-6) that Lee went with Moussa Diabate to start the second half. Apparently, Lee couldn’t take Karl-Anthony Towns, who posted 19 points and 10 rebounds, torturing them on the interior and decided to change the look via the lineup.
Anything to spark a team devoid of any semblance of a winning identity.
“The season’s not over, but guys on this team don’t like losing,” Bridges said. “We’ve got to do something to change it. So, I’m not happy to be losing. I’d rather win. We’ve just got to do something to change it.”
A good start would be ensuring they put forth the requisite amount of energy for a team that hasn’t even picked up enough victories to count on more than one hand through the season’s initial month-plus. Why wasn’t there a sustained intense showing despite the Hornets’ current position in the standings, which has them in the league’s bottom tier yet again?
“Yeah, that’s a great question,” Lee said. “I have to do a better job of preparing them and putting them in a position to give that effort. So, I will definitely take that.”
Here are some more key takeaways from the Hornets’ latest loss:
What’s up with LaMelo?
Ball’s shooting struggles aren’t getting any better.
The Hornets’ star point guard posted just 11 points against the Knicks and hasn’t been the same typical threat since returning after missing five games nursing a right ankle impingement.
Ball has reached 20 points only once in his past six outings and doesn’t have any double-doubles during that span, either. So what’s going on with him?
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, left, releases a one-handed runner as New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart applies defensive pressure during action at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
“I just think we all got to focus on what it takes to win,” Lee said when asked about Ball’s play of late. “I think that if we give a little bit more focus to the defensive end of the floor, a little bit of those competitive plays where you got to come up with a 50-50 ball or a defensive rebound, that’ll put you in a better spot to have success throughout the whole game.
“The game usually rewards hard work and effort and competitiveness. And I just think that all of us can be better, and we’ll play better offensively.”
Lee on Liam
In discussing the progress of Liam McNeeley, Lee mentioned how the University of Connecticut product is adjusting to the difference between the college and pro games.
McNeeley is sometimes seen scrambling defensively, hustling to rotate to the open man when the Hornets are switching on that side of the ball. He remains a work in progress and his grinding mentality is welcomed.
“I don’t think he rides the roller coaster of the emotions that go on sometimes on the NBA journey,” Lee said. “And his approach every day has been really good. So it’s been good to see him earn more minutes as the season has gone on. I think that he prepares the way a professional needs to prepare at practices. He’s locked in game plan execution.
“At times he gets a little bit lost, but he does a good job of still competing even as he’s trying to figure out maybe where to be rotationally and then offensively. I think that he’s doing a much better job of crashing the offensive glass, understanding what it means to kind of connect and be ready to make plays on the perimeter and drive with some confidence. And so we’re just seeing him evolve.”
View from the other side
Although things didn’t go in the Hornets’ favor against New York, Charlotte’s rookie contingent continues to receive praise from all directions.
Knicks coach Mike Brown appears to be a believer in the class, featuring Knueppel, Kalkbrenner, McNeeley and Sion James. Brown praised Charlotte’s first-year players, even citing some of the things he noticed watching footage of the Hornets’ most recent action leading into their first meeting of the season.
“They all bring a lot of things to the table,” Brown said. “The most important thing is they bring energy. It seems like they all want to try to play with passion, and they all try to play hard. They’re still finding their way a little bit, but if you take them lightly or think that they’re rookies or young, they can beat you in a lot of different ways — from shooting to offensive rebounding to passing to handling the ball. It’s a really good class that they have.”
Specifically, Brown is also impressed with what he’s seen from Knueppel. There are moments the opposition goes at him, like when Miles McBride had Knueppel on skates a bit on one play in the first quarter, but Knueppel doesn’t back down.
Instead, he accepts the challenge and wants to show he can perform on both sides of the ball.
“One thing is, he doesn’t seem like he’s afraid or unsure,” Brown said. “Sometimes, as a rookie, even guys that get thrown in the fire right away, you can watch games and see the doubt a little bit in their eyes every once in a while.
“There’s no doubt in his mind, he knows exactly who he is and how he’s going to impact the game, and veterans can feed off of his confidence.”
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly. Support my work with a digital subscription
Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee reacts to a call against the team during action against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, November 10, 2025 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. The Lakers defeated the Hornets 121-111.
JEFF SINER
jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Key players in street clothes was a theme for the Charlotte Hornets again on Sunday night.
Situated on the tail end of a back-to-back, the recently-imposed minutes’ restriction and maintenance program for LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller kept the duo out of the Hornets’ 113-110 loss at State Farm Arena.
With Ball (right ankle injury management), Miller (left shoulder injury management) and rookie center Ryan Kalkbrenner (left ankle sprain) all sitting out, the Hornets were minus three members of their starting unit. Coach Charles Lee instead trotted out a lineup featuring Collin Sexton, Sion James, Kon Knueppel and Mason Plumlee to go with mainstay Miles Bridges, and the Hornets were in it until the end, falling short due to an inability to close it out.
“Man, we just want to get into the win column,” Knueppel said. “We are playing hard. We’ve just got to play with our minds a little bit better, get the matchups that we want, think about what we are doing in execution offensively and know our personnel defensively, take care of stuff on that end.”
Knueppel once more showed he can get it done against whomever the opposition throws at him. The Hawks had Dyson Daniels, who finished second in the NBA’s defensive player of the year voting last season behind Cleveland’s Evan Mobley, guarding Knueppel on more than one occasion and the Hornets’ rookie held his own.
Knueppel’s 28 points were tops on the Hornets, keeping a familiar pattern going. That’s four straight games he’s led them in scoring and already the sixth time he’s done it overall. His seven made 3-pointers tied the franchise rookie record for shots hit beyond the arc in a single game.
Still, he’ll probably be ticked about a couple of failed opportunities down the stretch. Knueppel missed a driving layup that could have put the Hornets (4-13) ahead by a point with 32 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. With the Hornets trailing by two points in the waning moments, Lee drew up a play for Knueppel during a timeout with 11.3 seconds left.
Knueppel drove into the lane, but he got stripped of the ball by Nickeil Alexander-Walker and although Alexander-Walker kept the door slightly ajar for the Hornets after making only one of two free throws, Bridges’ off-balance hoist from 26 feet drew air, sending Charlotte to its sixth straight defeat.
“Shot feels good right now,” Kueppel said. “Second-to-last play, I came off clean. Probably should have took it instead of getting into the lane with the spin move. Kind of a clunky spin move Probably should have shot a 3 on the inbound there. So, that’s disappointing.”
One small bright spot among the Hornets’ injury woes: Tre Mann returned to action.
Mann missed the Hornets’ previous two games with left ankle soreness, a result of him slipping awkwardly in the first half of Monday’s loss in Toronto. As usual, he was one of the first players summoned off the bench by Lee and logged nearly seven of his 17 minutes in the first quarter. He only made 1 of 6 attempts, though, finishing with three points.
For the Hornets as a whole, it’s time to regroup.
“You also just want to tighten up your identity,” Lee said. “What you do defensively, what you do offensively. And I look forward to us just being able to touch all the parts of our game and continue to get better.”
Up next
Following outings on consecutive nights, the Hornets get a two-day break before matching up with the New York Knicks on Wednesday. It will be Charlotte’s first home matchup in the Emirates NBA Cup this season and tips off a stretch of three games in four days at Spectrum Center wrapped around Thanksgiving.
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly. Support my work with a digital subscription
LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles the ball against Ben Sheppard of the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Dylan Buell
Getty Images
Apparently, the Charlotte Hornets’ alarm clocks didn’t quite make it through U.S. Customs.
Whatever the reason for their slumber in the Midwest on Wednesday night, one thing is certain: The season is rapidly spiraling in the wrong direction and is about to get away from the Hornets really quickly if they can’t reverse the disturbing trend.
In making the Indiana Pacers look like title contenders during Wednesday’s brutal 127-118 defeat at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Hornets showed they have several areas to correct.
Although they aren’t whole because of the absences of Brandon Miller and Tre Mann — along with the likes of Grant Williams and Josh Green — losing to one of the worst teams in the NBA and trailing by as many as 24 points qualifies as the low point of their early season.
So, what happened?
“Have to play (more) physical, especially with a team like the Pacers,” Miles Bridges said. “They’ve been to the playoffs multiple years, they know how to play. So, with those kinds of teams you’ve got to be physical from the jump.”
Kon Knueppel led the Hornets (4-11) with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and Miles Bridges added 25 points and five rebounds. LaMelo Ball had 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and Ryan Kalkbrenner chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds.
Charlotte never truly threatened Indiana (2-13) until late.
“I thought they did a good job of playing with pace, executing their offense and getting some good looks,” coach Charles Lee said. “But I would say on the other end of the court, we got some really good looks in that first half and weren’t able to convert. Obviously, didn’t shoot a great percentage from the field or three. I thought that just affected how we guarded defensively.
“Coverage was not always tight, attention to detail not always great. But I loved the fact that we didn’t give in to having a frustrating shooting night. The squad kept competing . I thought the togetherness was better. But it’s tough when you dig yourself that kind of hole and you give up 30 points the first three quarters.”
Here’s what else of note the Hornets had to say:
On how to turn it around
“We’ve just got to play our game, get back to winning,” Bridges said. “The first two games against Brooklyn and against Philly, we were getting out with pace offensively after misses, after makes. So, we are not doing that anymore. We’ve got to get back to that and taking pride on defense.”
Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers attempts a shot against Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets in the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Nov. 19, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dylan Buell Getty Images
On Kon Knueppel
“He’s great,” Bridges said. “I don’t even know his player comparison, but he’s been great for us all year, and he’s going to continue to be great because he’s coachable, he knows the game well, he shoots the ball very well, he can drive. So, he’s an all-around player.”
Lee said, “It’s great for a young player to have that type of success early on. He is humble enough to understand that obviously a lot of it is him and a lot of it is his teammates, too. And so the combination of those two things is putting him in a good spot. And I think he is just converting and showing us what kind of player he can be.”
On Ryan Kalkbrenner’s season
“I think Ryan’s done a great job coming in,” Lee said, “and like Miles said, being coachable, asking what his role is specifically. You sit there, and you do your player development meetings and you kind of lay out these are the areas we want you to improve in. And as training camp goes on, we had a sidebar, and he said, ‘Coach, what else can I be doing? Is there anything else I can be doing?’
“The things we talked to him about, it’s really about trying to dominate the paint. His presence around the basket, his communication defensively, I think he really covers up some mistakes as we may make defensively or whenever we aren’t solid with what we are doing. He has his teammates’ back and I think it’s a luxury for those guys to know that they can pressure the ball, they can close the gap, they can do things knowing they have him back there to help support.
“He’s just the perfect big and the perfect teammate as well. So, it’s been a joy to watch him. And a lot of that is Ryan and a lot of that is the coaching that he had before he got here and the foundation that he came in with.”
Up next
The Hornets get a brief chance to play in front of their own fans after their two-game road trip. They host the LA Clippers at 1 p.m. Saturday at Spectrum Center before hitting the friendly skies again for a date with the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on Sunday night.
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly. Support my work with a digital subscription
The person who sat at the tail end of the visiting bench for Kon Knueppel’s pro debut in the preseason was back in the building, except this time watching on this side of the North Carolina border.
Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault had the first up-close opposing view of the Charlotte Hornets’ rookie when the teams met in Charleston in October, a matchup that preceded their outing at Spectrum Center on Saturday night. That makes Daigneault’s view on Knuppel’s growth as valid as anyone, and he heaped praise on the Hornets’ rookie.
“Knueppel’s off to a great start,” Daigneault said. “The shooting gravity obviously brings a different element in his screening. You saw that (Friday) night against Milwaukee, and he’s just got a good offensive sense for the game. He finds space, he’s good in the screening game. He obviously can play with the ball in those situations, too.
“So, good player, that’s off to a really good start in his career.”
One that could see him defy the odds and be in line to garner the NBA’s Rookie of the Year honors — provided Knueppel’s steady progression doesn’t take a serious dip. Even on nights like Saturday, when he didn’t completely have it in the Hornets’ 109-96 loss to Oklahoma City.
Knueppel’s eight-point, four-rebound, three-assist effort against the Thunder came on the heels of the best overall performance of his young career, when he posted a season-best 32 points in Charlotte’s defeat in Milwaukee, making memories for more than 2,000 fans in attendance who were there to cheer on their hometown hero.
Knueppel leads all rookies in made 3-pointers with 39 and is tied for ninth in the league in made 3-pointers. His scoring average of 17.9 points per game puts him atop the rookie class, ahead of Philadelphia’s V.J. Edgecombe’s 15.6 points and the 15.2 his former Duke teammate and No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg.
Knueppel is already at the point of having game-opening plays drawn up for him, and he’s adept at executing, such as when he drove into the lane for an easy layup off a screen to begin things against the Thunder.
“I think (it’s) just the consistency of his approach,” coach Charles Lee said. “He comes in the building every day, whether it’s what he eats for his diet, whether it’s his vitamins. If it’s a film or it’s on court work, everything’s just taken with a seriousness, a competitiveness, an obsession to want to get better.
“And I think that’s why when he gets to the game, he’s so fearless. He understands he’s done all the work mentally, physically, emotionally. He’s so stable. Doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low. He’s just ready for every moment. So, really excited for his continued growth. But I love what I’ve seen from him in the early going so far.”
Here are some takeaways from the Hornets’ second straight defeat:
Plan for LaMelo Ball
After returning from a five-game absence and playing in Friday’s loss in Milwaukee, star guard LaMelo Ball was in street clothes again. Ball logged 27 minutes against the Bucks following a nearly two-week absence nursing a right ankle impingement, but sat out the entire overtime period.
Given his injury history, the Hornets are taking it light with Ball.
“He came in this morning, got some treatment,” Lee said. “He’s actually in now, still getting treatment, and lifting and stuff. I think he responded really well to his minutes. Our performance staff and player-development group has done a good job of developing a plan that’s going to help maximize him. So, minutes going forward for a while, we have to be mindful of putting him in the best position to be available for as many games as possible.”
Miles Bridges’ play
Quietly, Miles Bridges is picking up quite a bit of the slack with Ball and Brandon Miller out of the lineup, doing a bit of everything.
Bridges has posted at least three games of 30 or more points and entered Saturday’s game tied for seventh in the NBA in made 3-pointers with 40, aided by his career-high tying seven 3-point shots he knocked down against Los Angeles on Nov. 10.
But his reach goes beyond the offensive side, as he typically guards one of the opposition’s better players, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“I’ve seen a ton of really good things from Miles over the last couple games,” Lee said. “No. 1 defensively, he’s taken on a lot of different matchups, and he’s embraced it and he’s wanting it. (Luka) Doncic, the Lakers game, and he’s picking up full-court and he’s trying to deny him. (Friday) night, (Giannis) Antetokounmpo at the end of the game.
“We were sending two a lot of times and double-teaming, and I was like, ‘Hey, we came into the game committed to it. Let’s finish the game.’ And Miles is like, ‘Nah, I got it.’ And he did a heck of a job at that end of the game, keeping him in front, getting to a contested jumper and forcing overtime with that stop. So, been really happy with the defensive mindset, his understanding of what’s going on, his willingness to want to embrace every matchup. Whether it’s the best player, whether it’s a big. Whatever it is, he’s done it at a high level.”
Lee’s praise didn’t stop there for Bridges.
“Offensively, I see him playing a little bit more composed, not trying to force too many things,” Lee said. “If he doesn’t have an immediate shot or quick drive, he’s swinging it, getting to a hit under or slip, trusting his teammates in a lot of different environments. So, then he’s able to get a catch-and-shoot 3, or he’s playing for some closeout and then able to get to the paint and get himself out and play it under control. So, I just love his overall just poise offensively.”
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly.
Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 25, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Hornets 125-121.
Mitchell Leff
Getty Images
In the unlikely case of nerves getting to Kon Knueppel during his first appearance in his hometown as a pro, Charles Lee offered up a little advice.
Leading into Friday night’s Emirates NBA Cup Group C matchup in Milwaukee, the Charlotte Hornets coach wanted to ensure his rookie wouldn’t get too caught up in the moment and become overly affected.
“He’s interesting when it comes to emotion because he is just so locked in and steady,” Lee said. “He doesn’t get too high; he doesn’t get too low. I actually was in the elevator with him and I said, ‘This will be fun for you to have all these people here, but be able to harness those emotions, I don’t worry about you feeling too overwhelmed or thinking that you have to be extraordinary or do something outside of yourself.
“He kind of is always the most consistent person I’ve seen.”
Unflappable as usual, Knueppel pumped in a career-best 32 points and hit a critical game-tying 3-pointer with 21.1 seconds remaining in regulation, but the Hornets lost to the Bucks 147-134 in overtime at Fiserv Forum.
“It’s special,” Knueppel said. “Coming back here and getting that kind of love is cool. I wish we had the win. It would have made it a little cooler, but hard-fought game.”
He added: “Obviously, I was excited, I was pretty jacked to play the game. But I tried as much as I could to treat it like a normal game. … You just want to do something for the team, and it came in the form of making shots tonight.”
Knueppel’s hometown debut as a pro came on the same night Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball returned to action after missing the previous five games nursing right ankle impingement. Back in the starting lineup, working out the rust following a nearly two-week absence, he was on a minutes restriction that kept him out of the extra five-minute session.
Ball poured in 16 points, handed out 10 assists and collected three rebounds in 27 minutes. He made 5 of 15 shots, went 2 for 6 beyond the 3-point arc, and sank all but one of four free throws — with the critical miss coming with the Hornets trailing by two with 40.7 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
“Just trying to, again, be mindful of where his minutes are going forward,” Lee said. “I think the plan that they put in place, let’s kind of keep him in a spot that’s going to maximize how many games he will be available for going forward.
“And so we had a little bit of a minute restriction (Friday) and we’ll see how we keep building on as the season goes on.”
Although the final result mirrored what’s happened in seven of the past 10 games, having Ball available again can aid in the Hornets unlocking certain aspects that just aren’t the same when the 6-foot-7 playmaker isn’t in uniform.
“Two things,” Lee said. “No. 1, offensively his talent, his creativity, his instincts, the gravity. A lot of teams obviously try to face guard him and shift off of him. And so it allows other guys to drive and maybe get a piece of the paint. In the pick-and-roll situation, he does a good job of scoring for himself but also be able to kick out to some guys, and allow them to get some catch-and-shoot threes.
“And then I think his spirit. His competitive spirit on both ends of the floor, when he’s engaged, it becomes contagious with our group. And I’ve seen a lot more vocal leadership from him, which has been really helpful. So … (it’s) nice to get that back in our lineup.”
Ball’s return couldn’t spur the Hornets (4-8) to a rare NBA Cup victory.
Charlotte fell to 0-2 in group play and will need a blistering effort in its final two games of the opening round — versus New York on Nov. 26 and against Chicago on Nov. 28 — to have a semblance of a chance to advance to the quarterfinals.
With Ball out and Brandon Miller still rehabilitating his shoulder injury, Knueppel has taken on more of the scoring burden. He averaged 16.6 points to go with 6.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists heading into their loss against the Bucks.
Knueppel entered the night pacing rookies in made 3-pointers (35) and tied for 10th in the league in total 3-pointers. He’s hit more shots beyond the arc through 11 games than any player in NBA history.
Kon Knueppel (7) of the Charlotte Hornets drives by AJ Green of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at Spectrum Center on Nov. 12, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. David Jensen Getty Images
Overall, he’s left Lee and the staff pleased.
“Lots of aspects have stood out,” Lee said. “I credit our front office for being able to identify who he is as a person, who he is as a player, first and foremost. He’s elevated our culture with his personality, his work ethic, his selflessness. And then on the court, I think that we just see a guy that’s ultra-competitive on every possession. I’ve loved his defensive instincts and competitiveness, really. I think he does a good job of knowing what tendencies are. He’s always prepared in terms of knowing what the game plan is. You can trust him to be able to execute a game plan.
“And then offensively, he’s a jack of all trades. I think most people knew he could shoot or thought he’d just be a shooter. But he’s more than that to us, and he’s kind of been able to show it, too. I think the shooting maybe unlocks everything else for him to be able to put it on the floor, make the right rim reads, and be able to get into the paint at times, which has been impressive, too.”
As was something else: Knueppel’s family invited the team over for dinner after its arrival in town Thursday. Lee was appreciative of the low-key chance for everyone to break bread together in an environment and setting that’s familiar to Knueppel.
“It means a lot to me, it means a lot to his teammates,” Lee said. “We are all about togetherness, and family, and The Hive, and everyone matters and everything matters to us. And so that type of gesture from him and his family is huge.
“Once again, it’s another way in which he’s enhanced our culture, bringing people together on and off the court. And so I love that they had that type of moment. I was a little salty I didn’t get the invite.”
Up next
Following their mini one-game trip, the Hornets return home to host NBA defending champion Oklahoma City at Spectrum Center on Saturday on the tail end of a tough back-to-back. Tipoff is scheduled for just after 6 p.m.
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly.
Tipoff was roughly 90 minutes away, so Charles Lee’s latest secret maneuver hadn’t been publicly revealed just yet.
Instead, when the Charlotte Hornets coach got asked about the recent rise in rotational minutes for Sion James over the course of the season’s initial week, he glowingly opened up in discussing the rookie guard.
“Sion’s done a great job of developing his game, learning how we want to play on both ends of the court,” Lee said. “He stood out to us, obviously, early in pre-draft and going to evaluate him in our front office. And so there’s always been something there with Sion. I think that his physicality defensively has been really impressive, but he’s earned an opportunity.”
After serving as a reserve for the initial four games of his career, James apparently was deemed worthy of an even bigger break. He started in the Hornets’ backcourt alongside star LaMelo Ball in their 123-107 loss to the Orlando Magic at Spectrum Center on Thursday night, helping establish a little history in the process.
In joining fellow draft class members Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner in the game-opening unit, it marked the first time the Hornets have ever started three rookies in a regular-season game.
“Yeah, it’s awesome,” James said. “We’ve talked about how we get to go through this experience together. It’s awesome sharing the floor together. At one point, all four of us were on the floor together, which is really cool for us to see. And we’re just really trying to grow.
“We’re thankful for the position that we’re in, and we’re just trying to do the best for ourselves and for the organization.”
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges, center, sits on the team’s bench dejected in the final moments of action against the Orlando Magic at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Oct. 30, 2025. The Magic defeated the Hornets 123-107. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
James’ insertion into the starting lineup couldn’t spur the Hornets (2-3) past the Magic, despite Orlando being on a back-to-back and shorthanded without Jalen Suggs and Mo Wagner. A sluggish opening quarter paired with an inability to get up into the Magic defensively doomed Charlotte.
Factor in an off night from Miles Bridges, who didn’t get it going until late and tossed in 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting, and a modest performance from Ball by his lofty standards — 17 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds — and the Hornets began their three-game home stand in disappointing fashion by trailing wire to wire against Orlando (2-4).
“Yeah, I think that we definitely didn’t have that extra gear that we had been playing with the last few games,” Lee said. “I don’t know coming off that road trip or what it is, but we’ve got to be able to find that juice. And I think that it starts with being able to get stops. And when we get stops, we’re usually out in transition and playing with the pass and playing confidently.
“So, I think that, again, we’ve got to get more stops to be able to play with the pass pace that we want to play with.”
About the only thing this one will be remembered for centers around James.
James, who totaled eight points and four rebounds in 27 minutes against the Magic, quickly carved out an early-season rotation spot with activity on both ends of the court, high basketball IQ and sustained effort, catching the staff’s eye almost immediately.
The Hornets knew they had something in the hard-working Georgia native who slid into the national spotlight thanks to his one season at Duke teamed with Knueppel, No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg & Co.
“It’s been fun to watch, and I think his teammates have kind of helped bring him along as well,” Lee said. “And so I don’t think there was a certain point — I just think it was really an evolution and an earning of an opportunity throughout all the competitiveness we had during training camp and preseason, and seeing how he can just add to a group because he doesn’t need the ball necessarily.
“He can play beside anybody. He’s going to play defense, he’s going to offensive rebound, he’s going to help connect the whole group. So, love that about him. And I think that it’s a good asset to our group.”
Here are some takeaways from the Hornets’ latest outing:
Costly defensive woes
Scanning the score by quarter along with the Magic’s shooting percentage beyond the arc in the first half tells you all you need to know about this one. Orlando topped 30 points in all but one quarter and sank 47.4% of its 3-point attempts in the first half alone.
“In general our defensive execution was not good enough,” Lee said. “To come off of last game and start the game with a 38-point first quarter and a 33-point second quarter, especially with the points of emphasis being taking care of the paint, defending without fouling, second-chance points … it felt like those reared their heads too much in that first half.
Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James, left, is hugged by injured guard Brandon Miller prior to the team’s game against the Orlando Magic at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Oct. 30, 2025. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
“And then I thought that we actually found a little bit of a groove defensively in some other areas and credit some of their guys that haven’t been shooting it well shot it decently tonight. So, we will definitely hit the drawing board and get back to practice and keep working on our defensive end intensity and purpose.”
The Hornets let the Magic push them around. And they know it’s unacceptable.
“We just weren’t physical enough, honestly,” James said. “They’re a big, physical team, one of the most physical in the league, and in stretches we matched and exceeded it. And those are the stretches where we were able to get stops and get quick baskets on the other end.
“But a lot of the time, they were out-physicaling us and that’s how we gave up 38 in the first quarter, 33 in the second quarter.”
Tre Mann’s slow start
Take a peek at the Hornets’ leading scorers entering the night and one name is lower than expected, leaving more than a few people wondering what’s going on.
Tre Mann ranked ninth in scoring on the team at six points per game through the Hornets’ first four contests and had topped double digits only once this season. He also got held scoreless in Sunday’s win in Washington, and shot 24.6% overall from the floor and 22.2% through four games.
Mann posted nine points against the Magic, failing to reach double figures once again. Still, Lee is sure Mann will return to form soon.
“Yeah, always going to remain confident in Tre and everyone in that locker room,” Lee said. “I watch how hard they work, how much they care. My confidence will never waver with him or anybody else. I think that he’s just trying to find his way again. You missed some games and still just trying to find that rhythm. But I’ve actually seen progress from game to game.
“I’ve seen him find his defensive impact, like trying to get into the ball a little bit more, trying to have a little bit more shift activity. Offensively, I think he’s becoming a little bit more decisive. Saw him knock down two threes against Miami that I thought were just kind of catch-and-shoot, and be ready and let it fly. And then also in pick-and-roll situations, just recognizing some unders and where to pass and when to pass. You miss some time, new style of play, it takes a little bit of time. But I have full confidence in Tre to be able to get back to ‘Tricky Tre.’”
Kon Knueppel is more than a shooter
To say Knueppel is off to a good start is an understatement.
He is atop this season’s rookie leaderboard in made 3-pointers (17) and entered the matchup with Orlando ranked fifth in the NBA in 3-pointers knocked down. He’s connected on more shots beyond the arc through four games than anyone in NBA history, and is also the lone player in league history to make five or more 3-pointers in two of his first four career games.
But that’s not what’s jumping out to Lee. It’s what’s transpiring on the other side of the floor.
Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, left, loses control of the ball as Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner applies defensive pressure during action at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Oct. 30, 2025. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
“I think that his understanding of personnel and tendencies has already been pretty impressive for a first-year player,” Lee said. “I think he takes the time to study and watch film, and he and his position or primary skills coach do a really good job of working on techniques as well — slide steps and how to steer.
“And he’s a quick learner. He’s got a really high basketball IQ, really good feel and then his overall just competitive nature makes him want to embrace whatever challenge comes his way defensively.”
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly. Support my work with a digital subscription
Looking to improve to 2-0 after their impressive comeback victory on opening night in Boston, the Sixers will take the floor for their home opener on Saturday night against a young Charlotte Hornets team that has quietly accumulated a strong collection of young talent.
What sort of timeline are the Hornets operating on, how do some of their key young players look early on, and will LaMelo Ball prove capable of leading a competitive team?
Adam Aaronson: VJ Edgecombe eventually became the top option among Sixers fans at the team’s No. 3 overall pick in June, but many were intrigued by Kon Knueppel. What have you made of Knueppel’s short time with the Hornets since he was drafted at No. 4 overall and how do you see his career progressing?
James Plowright: Knueppel has made a strong first impression as a Hornet, leading the Summer League squad to a championship and earning MVP honors in the process. He’s since claimed the starting spot ahead of Collin Sexton. His poise, maturity, and understanding of the game are well beyond his years — Knueppel is 20 going on 30.
While he isn’t the most explosive athlete by NBA standards, he gets to his spots at will and has been a clear positive on the defensive end. Fans are thrilled with his impact so far. While many preferred Edgecombe on draft night, most would likely stick with Knueppel now despite Edgecombe’s impressive start.
AA: Another Hornets rookie who was previously of interest to Sixers fans is center Ryan Kalkbrenner, drafted at No. 34 overall one spot before the Sixers landed on Johni Broome. What is the ceiling for Kalkbrenner in the NBA and how much of a chance does he have of reaching it?
JP: Kalkbrenner has been Charlotte’s unofficial MVP of training camp. Multiple veterans and coaches have praised his defensive impact, particularly his communication, which is far ahead of most rookies.
His debut against Brooklyn was outstanding. Earning a start, he joined Tim Duncan as the only other rookie since 1972 to record a double-double with multiple blocks while shooting over 60 percent from the field. The starting center spot remains fluid depending on matchups, though, so don’t be surprised if the rotation shifts on Saturday.
Charlotte’s defensive scheme is built around limiting points in the paint, and Kalkbrenner has thrived within it — vertical contests without fouling, strong rebounding, and reliable positioning both on the weak side and in on-ball situations. Expect to see him cross-matched onto shaky-shooting wings at times to keep him anchored closer to the rim.
The Hornets’ staff have often mentioned Brook Lopez as a potential upside comparison, and Walker Kessler is another fitting parallel. Still, as a senior, Kalkbrenner may plateau earlier than most rookies. The real test will come against stronger NBA bigs and in how he adapts to defending stretch fives, an area that gave him trouble early in the preseason.
AA: We have reached the beginning of LaMelo Ball’s sixth NBA season, and while the talent is clearly off the charts the winning and availability have not been. Do you view Ball as somewhat responsible for the Hornets’ continued losing? Is he running out of time to prove he can lead Charlotte to greater heights, or will he be afforded more patience?
JP: There are two main drivers behind Charlotte’s recent losing seasons: injuries and a front office committed to rebuilding. While LaMelo Ball’s on-court style has occasionally bordered on reckless entertainment, the Hornets’ record with him in the lineup is noticeably stronger than without.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for growth. Ball’s usage rate last season ranked among the highest in NBA history — a worrying sign for both the team and his own efficiency. This year’s offense is designed to be more egalitarian, and his usage against Brooklyn would have ranked as the third-lowest of any game last season. It’s an early indicator that he’s making a real effort to move the ball and share the load.
The bigger concern is stagnation. Ball hasn’t meaningfully improved his weaknesses since entering the league — strength, defensive consistency, interior finishing, pull-up mid-range scoring, turnovers, and foul discipline remain issues. After six seasons, the scouting report reads much the same.
Is there pressure for that to change right now? Not necessarily, given the team’s stage of the rebuild. But if Ball endures another season marred by injuries or inefficiency, it could mark the tipping point — the moment his contract and production begin to drift toward negative-value territory.
Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Kon Knueppel, right, drives to the basket for a shot over Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas, left, during action on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC.
JEFF SINER
jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
In case many weren’t aware, which was understandable given the curiosity that undoubtedly engulfed many patrons with Spectrum Center’s renovations complete, the video board and public address announcer Shawn Parker made it clear.
Listening to the roar of delight when rookie Kon Knueppel was introduced as a member of the Hornets’ starting five and the continued excitement seconds later when Ryan Kalkbrenner’s name was unveiled cemented that. The Hornets believe they are on a path to changing the franchise’s culture, and Knueppel and Kalkbrenner should play pivotal roles after combining for 21 points and 16 rebounds in Wednesday night’s 136-117 win over the Brooklyn Nets in front of a sellout crowd of 19,514.
“It’s awesome,” Kalkbrenner told The Observer. “I think both of us have a good attitude about it. We’re just going to make the most of the opportunity that we get. Whether it’s starting, coming off the bench, whatever.
“We were lucky enough to get the experience to start tonight. I think I can say it for Kon, but definitely for myself, that we’re just happy to help the team win.”
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, left, congratulates guard/forward Kon Knueppel following Knueppel’s 3-point basket against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday at Spectrum Center. The Hornets defeated the Nets, 136-117. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Kalkbrenner became the second rookie in franchise history to record a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) in his NBA debut, joining Emeka Okafor. He’s also the 81st player in NBA history to debut with a points-rebounds double-double, according to Stathead.
The Hornets are also the first team since 2019 to start two rookies on opening night and emerge victorious. They were just two of the nine Hornets who scored in double digits — something that had never happened in a season opener in franchise history.
“Everybody ate,” Knueppel said. “Everybody is playing unselfishly. How many guys did we have? Nine? That’s winning basketball. That’s how it’s supposed to be played. So, hopefully we can keep that going.”
The insertion of Knueppel and Kalkbrenner comes with a disclaimer, though: Objects in the starting lineup may be subject to change.
Coach Charles Lee intends on keeping things fluid at shooting guard and center.
“We’ll keep studying it and figuring out which combinations work well,” the coach said. “Brandon, Miles and LaMelo have shown that they’ve earned that opportunity to start. The other two guys, they’re going to have to earn that with their performance, they’re going to earn it with the trust of their coaches and their teammates.
“Sometimes, it will be based on matchups or what makes sense with roster balance, depending on whatever situation we’re in during the year. There’s been a lot of great communication and people know to be open-minded and ready for their opportunity. We have a really deep team, especially when it comes to competitiveness.”
Initial impressions from Knueppel and Kalkbrenner were solid.
Sure, there were rookie mistakes, such as when Kalkbrenner got the ball early in the first quarter at the free-throw line and turned briefly to face the bucket. However, he whipped a pass in between Bridges and Knueppel on the wing.
But Lee also showed the confidence he has in Kalkbrenner when he ran a play for the big man coming out of a timeout midway through the first quarter. And he followed that up with back-to-back easy buckets inside.
With relative ease, too.
He swatted Ben Saraf’s shot at the rim in the second quarter, sparking a fast break punctuated by a LaMelo Ball feed to Miles Bridges for an easy two-handed dunk. Throw in a nice back tap in the third quarter that led to an uncontested Knueppel 3-pointer was among the other positives for Kalkbrenner.
“Just got the nerves out of the way,” Kalkbrenner said. “Some bad came with that — game moving a little fast. But at the end of the day, it’s just basketball. And once I got a few quarters under my belt, definitely slowed down, I felt more comfortable. So. that’ll continue to get better and better, and I’ll keep finding my comfort out there.”
Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner throws down a two-handed dunk during action against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday at Spectrum Center. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
At least he’s off to a good start.
“It’s cool when you get your first NBA victory, especially to do it here at Spectrum in front of our great fans,” Lee said, “and so they made an impact from Day 1 just with their work ethic and who they are as people. And it was cool to see them be able to impact the game today in a lot of different ways.
“The (rookies) that hooped, there was a competitive spirit to all three of them. Offensive rebounds, Ryan blocking shots at the rim, Sion (James) being the elite connector that he is in terms of rebounding and pushing and guarding. So, it was a great learning experience for all three and I’m not surprised by the impact that they had because they’ve earned that opportunity to be out there.”
Here are some other key takeaways from the Hornets’ season-opening win:
Miles Bridges’ form looks pretty good
Miles Bridges picked up where he left off in the preseason.
Bridges was a force against the Nets, efficiently pumping in 18 points to go with 11 rebounds in 30 minutes. He didn’t settle for jump shots, effectively taking the ball to the bucket and drawing fouls.
He’s attributed his sizzling performances to coming into training camp in better shape, having dropped some weight to become a bit leaner, just like when he arrived in Charlotte from Michigan State in 2018. And his outing against the Nets is just the latest noteworthy effort.
“Yeah, I felt good,” Bridges said. “Like I said, I’m really comfortable in this offense, and I’ve got to be the leader out there on defense. We’ve got a lot of guys who can put the ball in the hole, and we are going to try to utilize that the whole year.”
Lee lauded Bridges’ play.
“His discipline and consistency have been really impressive,” Lee said. “During a long offseason, you start off where everyone’s always motivated. It’s easy as the summer can drag on to lose that motivation. I think Miles did a great job of starting strong in the offseason and then he continued the whole way through. With his [offseason workout] plan, I think he’s coming in in better shape.
“He took a really committed approach to his body and his conditioning, and it’s really helping him. He’s guarding really well, and offensively we’ve challenged him to hit the glass to create more possessions for us. When he starts doing it at a really high level, it becomes contagious. He always has the ability to bring people along with him because they understand how hard he plays and competes.”
Collin Sexton is the sixth man
After taking contact from North Carolina product Drake Powell and working through the foul, Colin Sexton slapped the baseline a few times in rapid succession.
It was obvious the eighth-year veteran was having fun in front of his new home crowd.
Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton, left, guards Brooklyn Nets forward Tyrese Martin during action on Wednesday at Spectrum Center. The Hornets defeated the Nets, 136-117. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
“Just so that I can just relax, you know what I mean?” Sexton said. “Come to the free-throw line, make my free throws. I was upset I missed the first one. So I was like, ‘OK, now it’s time to redeem myself.’ It was one of those energy moments. I brought the energy right when I came in.”
Tapped as the sixth man in the opener, being summoned off the bench before anyone else, Sexton sparkled in his Hornets’debut. He posted 15 points on nine attempts, also distributing three assists. His play was infectious, and it’s obvious he’s going to be a key cog for the Hornets if they have any legitimate chance at ending the NBA’s longest playoff drought.
His production against the Nets was only the beginning.
“Oh, it was fun,” Sexton said. “It was definitely fun. Had a good time out there. I feel like when the ball is moving around, the energy is popping in the building and I feel like we do it, we’re doing it together. Allows us to get those leads.”
Welcome back, Tre
Tre Mann’s last regular-season game came in November. Yes, it’s been a while.
But that all changed against the Nets, when Mann came off the bench and tossed in 12 points in 20 minutes. And he had immediate impact.
He fed Moussa Diabate twice in three possessions for an easy bucket, unselfishly dumping it off to the Frenchman. Mann also had a steal and subsequent layup near the tail end of the first quarter, quelling any fears about his health after missing most of last season with a back issue.
He’s perfectly comfortable being in a reserve role.
“To be honest, I never really had the mindset to start or nothing,” Mann said. “I’m just going to compete either way, even if it wasn’t no starting spot. So, I feel like for me, I just look at it that way. I put myself into a six-man since I was the sixth man last year.
“I didn’t expect to come out and start, but I’m still going to compete every time. And if he sees it best for me to start this year, that’s what it is. If not, I’m good with whatever as long as I’m playing for real.”
This story was originally published October 22, 2025 at 11:48 PM.
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly. Support my work with a digital subscription
