Kon Knueppel has been surprising everyone this season as a frontrunner in the Rookie of the Year Race as well as probable future franchise player. He is even more consistent than no. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. The Duke Devils standout was picked fourth overall for a reason. If there’s something that should surprise everyone, listen to his star teammate LaMelo Ball.
The highlight below shows Knueppel’s wide range of skills, which goes against the typical archetype of a white player.
Dunking is something Ball is most surprised about his new teammate. He even went on to reference the most iconic basketball movie in history.
“I’m not going to lie, I’mma go with the bounce for real. I ain’t know he can jump like that,” he said through the Hornets Youtube channel.
“He caught a few little dunks. I’m like, hold on. I’ve seen White Men Can’t Jump at the end. He kind of jumping like that the day whole day though. Solid.”
White Men Can’t Jump was released in 1992 and starred Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson. It was remade in 2023 by Sinqua Walls and Jack Harlow although the reception was not as good.
Kon Knueppel makes LaMelo
Hornets lost their last game, which was agains the Detroit Pistons, but they had some fun in the two games before that as they recored rare back-to-back wins.
Knueppel averaged 28.5 in those wins. He had 33 points and 9 assists in the game before that which was loss to the Chicago Bulls.
Ball just returned to the team after a lengthy absence and he feels great about the team right now. He thought he got teammates that complement him.
“I wasn’t trying to press to shoot the ball or anything. We’ve got so many weapons now, so l ain’t got to force anything. So, I’m just letting the game come to me,” he said.
Knueppel is a strong candidate for ROY at the moment. He has been the no. 2 player in the Rookie Ladder next to Flagg. He was the no.1 two weeks before.
For the latest Basketball Content
Make sure you are always updated on your favorite basketball players and teams. Follow us @HardwoodHeroics for the latest and trending news about NBA, college basketball, and more. Stay updated by reading more of our NBA articles by clicking here and college basketball by clicking here!
