Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel absolutely exploded Friday night. He dropped 16 points in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic. It was a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range. But then the bad news hit. Knueppel went down with a right ankle injury late in the second quarter. This happened during the Hornets’ 120-105 win on December 26, 2025.
He landed awkwardly on Magic guard Desmond Bane’s foot. Kon was defending a drive to the basket. The Hornets were up 57-48 at the time. This was near the end of the first half. He didn’t come back to the game. Knueppel just limped off the court. Coach Charles Lee said after the game that X-rays on the ankle were negative. That’s good news. But they’ll reevaluate him back in Charlotte.
A Blazing Start Cut Short
Man, Knueppel was really on fire. He scored 16 points in just the first quarter. He made every three he shot, which was four of them. It was a “sensational outing,” according to the Hornets’ official site. He only played 10 minutes that quarter. He was quiet in the second quarter, apparently, before the injury. But that first quarter? Wow. Everyone was talking about it.
The injury was a pretty nasty twist. He went up to contest a layup. It was Bane driving. Knueppel landed right on Bane’s foot. It looked painful. Sources like ClutchPoints shared video of it. No one knows how long he’ll be out. But missing any significant time for him would be a huge blow.
Knueppel’s Incredible Rookie Campaign
This guy’s been a problem for defenses all season. Kon Knueppel ranks second among all NBA rookies. That’s for both scoring and three-point shooting. He came into the game averaging 19.4 points. Plus, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. His shooting from three has been really efficient too, around 41.9%.
He’s a Duke product. And he’s already breaking records. Earlier this week, he became the fastest player in NBA history to hit 100 three-pointers. It only took him 29 games. That beat Lauri Markkanen, who did it in 41 games. Knueppel’s just 20 years old, pretty wild right? He’s making a strong case for Rookie of the Year, with Duke Basketball Report even talking about it.
He scored a career-high 30 points in a loss to the Heat back in November, as noted by CBS Sports. And he’s the only rookie this season with back-to-back 20-point games.
Another Injury for the Hornets?
Charlotte really can’t catch a break. They’ve been pretty injury-ravaged lately. This injury to Knueppel is just the latest. They were already missing two top centers Friday. Ryan Kalkbrenner and Mason Plumlee weren’t playing. LaMelo Ball has had ankle issues. Brandon Miller is dealing with a shoulder problem. It seems like the hits never stop coming.
Knueppel has become a big deal for this team. Some even say he’s becoming the main franchise cornerstone. Losing him now would pretty much stunt any progress the team’s been making. The Hornets have been playing better basketball lately. But this could really put a damper on things. No further official updates on his status or return timetable have been released. So, it’s all just waiting now.
Team Steps Up for the Win
Even without Knueppel, the Hornets still managed to win. They beat the Magic 120-105. That’s a good sign for the team’s resilience. Seven different Hornets players scored in double figures. LaMelo Ball led the team with 22 points. He hit four threes too. But he also had six turnovers, that’s a lot. Collin Sexton chipped in 13 points off the bench. He’s just back from a quad injury himself. So, the team showed some grit and depth.
The Hornets are 11-20 now after this win. The Magic are 17-14. It was a good road win for Charlotte. But everyone’s definitely thinking about Kon. Hopefully, he’s back on the court soon. We’ll have to wait for more info when the team gets back home and he gets reevaluated. It’s a tough break, for sure, especially after such a dominant start.
Tanya Singh 
Annsly Raena 
Soureesh Datta