Kon Knueppel's NBA All-Star Weekend bridges Duke and Charlotte
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Hornets forward Kon Knueppel (left) and his former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg when the Hornets played the Mavericks in January. Photo: Cooper Neill/NBAE via Getty Images
Kon Knueppel has a packed NBA All-Star Weekend ahead of him. The Charlotte Hornets forward was selected not only to participate in the Rising Stars competition, but also in the 3-Point Contest and the Shooting Stars competition.
Why it matters: Knueppel, a top-five NBA Draft pick, has helped fuel the Hornets' recent hot streak, prompting fans to line up in the cold waiting to get into Spectrum Center.
What they're saying: "He has this bravado, this façade, where he doesn't give you much. He stays even keeled," Hornets head coach Charles Lee recently told The Athletic. "But he's a f—ing killer."
Flashback: The Hornets selected Knueppel No. 4 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. He was one of five Duke players selected in last year's NBA Draft — the most in the NCAA.
- Cooper Flagg was one of those Duke players. The Dallas Mavericks selected him No. 1 overall last year.
- Knueppel and Flagg faced each other on Jan. 29 in a high-scoring game, which the Hornets won 123-121.
What we're watching: The former Duke teammates may face each other again during Rising Stars. Knueppel will play on Team T-Mac, and Cooper Flagg will be on Team Melo. The tournament is at 9pm Friday, Feb. 13, in Los Angeles. You can watch it on Peacock.
- There will be more Duke connections with Knueppel's Shooting Stars teammates Corey Maggette and Jalen Johnson. You can watch this on Peacock and NBC on Saturday. All-Star Saturday events start at 5pm.
By the numbers: In 53 games, Knueppel has become the first rookie to score 1,000 points this season.
- Knueppel has tied Alonzo Mourning's franchise record for fastest player to score 1,000 points.
- Plus, Knueppel has the fifth-most 3-pointers made in a rookie season with 179.
Zoom in: Knueppel, 20, is a lot like any other Charlotte transplant who moved here for work. He's trying to figure out his new home, from things to do to restaurants to visit.
- He's been to Carolina Panthers games, watched his beloved Duke beat Virginia in the ACC Championship at Bank of America Stadium in December, and played pickleball at Rally in LoSo.
- Off the court, Knueppel's favorite Charlotte spots include: Pizza Baby, Ed's Tavern in Dilworth and Superica, a Tex-Mex spot in South End.
- "I had to find a little sports bar," Knueppel says of Ed's Tavern. "Being from Milwaukee, that's like a big part of the culture."
- He's also a fan of Steak 48 in SouthPark, and he just tried Chima, a Brazilian steakhouse in Uptown, with his mom.
Go deeper: Knueppel's Durham food picks
The big picture: The Hornets are trying to make the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
- "Having some success, the fans really get behind you," Knueppel tells Axios.
What's next: The Hornets host the Atlanta Hawks at Spectrum Center on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 7pm. Tickets start at $25.