Kon Knuepel reveals Giannis’ “Welcome to the NBA” moment.
Kon Knuppel did not look even as a rookie despite it being his first season in the NBA. That’s how good the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft was Charlotte Hornets. Even then, there were a few moments this season where Knuepel did receive a rude awakening that he is, indeed, in the premier basketball league in the entire world — facing the best of the best the world has to offer.
One such player who gave Knuepel a “welcome to the NBA” moment was Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Hornets rookie revealed in an appearance on SportsCenter that the defense of the freight train that Antetokounmpo was in transition was so a terrifying prospect that it reminded him that he really was in the NBA.
“There’s a couple of them. I’m just getting back in transition and Giannis runs at you, full steam ahead. I think he scored,” Knueppel told Scott Van Pelt in hilariously deadpan fashion.
Conn Knuppel joins @notthefakesvp to discuss the Hornets’ playoff potential, missing out on Durham and the Rookie of the Year race with fellow Duke teammate Cooper Flagg 👀 pic.twitter.com/EE8ispLupO
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 4, 2026
Knueppel also recalled having to defend Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic as particularly memorable moments.
“I’m thinking about locking up with Steph Curry and thinking ‘there’s no way this isn’t going to happen.’ Or as if Luka gets a switch and iso on the wing,” Knuppel added.
Hornets’ Kon Knuepel will give future players a welcome to the NBA moment
Knuppel was already so advanced in his development that it is difficult not to include him in future All-Star games and even future All-NBA teams. His shooting is already elite at just 20 years old and will become such a problem for opposing defenses — as if he wasn’t already.
The Hornets are almost above the .500 mark after a rough start to the 2025-26 season, as they now have a 31-31 record heading into Wednesday night’s matchup against the Boston Celtics.
2026-03-04 06:00:00
