INDIANAPOLIS — In Indianapolis, Kon Knueppel of Charlotte achieved another significant accomplishment during his impressive inaugural professional year, having been the fourth overall selection from Duke.
The shooting guard for the Hornets surpassed Keegan Murray’s league record for successful three-point shots, tallying his 207th on Thursday evening while playing the Indiana Pacers. Knueppel sank five three-pointers during the initial half, subsequently surpassing the benchmark in the third period following a pass from Sion James, who was his collegiate teammate at Duke.
He concluded the 133-109 victory with 28 points, matching his personal best with 8 three-pointers from 12 attempts, just one short of equalling the all-time rookie mark. Currently, he tops the NBA with a total of 209 three-pointers made.
“My focus is simply on executing the correct basketball maneuver,” Knueppel stated post-game. “My colleagues are expertly positioning themselves for screens and creating advantageous situations for me. The coaching staff also plays a crucial role. I’m merely on the court aiming to benefit my squad.”
Murray required 80 contests during the 2022-23 season to establish that milestone, whereas Knueppel exceeded it in merely 59. He mentioned that he wasn’t fully aware of the significance of the particular shot that broke the record.
“Frankly, I believed seven were necessary,” Knueppel remarked.
Stephen Curry of Golden State holds the league’s all-time single-season high for three-pointers, with a total of 402.
Knueppel is achieving a 44.2% success rate from long distance, positioning him as a strong candidate for the NBA’s top first-year player award, alongside Cooper Flagg, his erstwhile university cohort and housemate, who was the Mavericks’ top overall selection. Additionally, he has been instrumental in advancing the struggling Hornets into the postseason race; the Charlotte team has been absent from the playoffs since the 2015-16 campaign.
“Such a talent, coupled with such modesty and an absence of self-importance, truly uplifts our entire team’s ethos, spreading throughout the organization,” stated Hornets head coach Charles Lee to CGTN Sports Scene subsequent to Knueppel surpassing 200 three-pointers on Tuesday evening.
Knueppel has seamlessly integrated into coach Lee’s offensive scheme in his second year, complementing facilitator LaMelo Ball by identifying unguardeed areas on the court. He credits this proficiency to participating in his father’s adult league, competing against taller opponents since he was in eighth grade in Milwaukee.
Knueppel has excelled as a player who receives and immediately shoots, with 93% of his three-pointers this season originating from assists as of Thursday evening, according to statistics from Cleaning the Glass.
His exceptional accuracy from the field has drawn widespread attention throughout the league.
Curry, who holds the NBA’s all-time record for three-pointers, netted 166 on 380 tries during his initial year with the Warriors across 80 matches in the 2009-10 season. Knueppel has currently attempted 473 three-pointers.
“Evidently, his shooting prowess is exceptional,” Curry commented following a recent matchup with the Hornets. “It’s simply not possible to leave him unguarded due to his rapid shot release and confident execution. Furthermore, his ability to create plays is significantly undervalued. His playing style is perfectly adapted to the NBA’s dynamics, regardless of whether it’s an up-tempo contest or a more deliberate, possession-oriented one.”
Knueppel overtook Donovan Mitchell, currently positioned third among rookies for successful three-point shots, during a defeat against the Cavaliers on February 20th.
Mitchell humorously noted that he was informed of this development post-game by his Cavaliers colleague Tyrese Proctor, who had been a teammate of Knueppel’s at Duke.
“He possesses significant skill,” Mitchell remarked regarding Knueppel. “For a first-year player to perform with such apparent ease is remarkable. We are aware of his shooting capabilities, but I believe his proficiency in attacking the mid-range and developing plays within the compact pick-and-roll is a truly distinctive aspect of his play, allowing him to generate personal advantages.”
“The competition between him and Coop for the top first-year player honor will be captivating.”
Details presented in this article were sourced from The Associated Press.
