Kon

Knueppel

Sexton will miss a fourth straight game as he continues to deal with a strained left quad. With LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann also out, the Hornets have given rookies Sion James and Kon Knueppel more time on the ball as playmakers, with the latter already in the starting lineup. Knueppel can still be found on some 12-team league waiver wires; do not hesitate to add him if he’s available.

Despite the defeat, the Hornets had to be thrilled by what they saw from Knueppel on Friday. While he was efficient in recording a career-high point total, the rookie also did a good job of helping Charlotte compensate for LaMelo Ball’s absence. Knueppel matched his season-high in assists while committing only two turnovers. He’s still rostered in 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues, which is too low for a rookie of Knueppel’s caliber.

Ball exited Friday’s win over the Raptors with a bone bruise in his left ankle. Due to his previous ankle injuries, this is a concern for the point guard and the Hornets. With Tre Mann and Collin Sexton also out, more minutes will become available to Sion James and KJ Simpson. Also, don’t be surprised if Kon Knueppel spends more time on the ball.

There must be something about the Knicks that doesn’t agree with Knueppel, as he has struggled from three in both meetings. After missing all seven of his attempts in a November 26 loss to New York, he made one of his six attempts on Wednesday. Fantasy managers did receive solid value in the rebound and assist categories, but the rookie’s field-goal percentage took a hit. The good news is that nights like Wednesday have not been the norm for Knueppel, who was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month at the beginning of the week.

Over his last two games, Knueppel has shot 8-of-16 from beyond the arc. While fantasy managers in category leagues would like to see some defensive production from the rookie, he has been one of the most productive first-year players in the NBA this season. And over the past two weeks, Knueppel has been a sixth-round player in nine-cat formats. He continues to exceed his Yahoo! ADP (142) and has been one of the few bright spots for the Hornets this season.

After totaling 18 points on 7-of-26 shooting in his previous two games, Knueppel got back on track Saturday night. The rookie has scored at least 20 points in ten of his 19 appearances, and that production has placed Knueppel among the best rookies in the NBA, if not at the top of that list. Given the recent injury issues for LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, Knueppel boasts a high ceiling in redraft leagues. The Hornets play four games during Week 7, starting with the Nets on Monday.

Wednesday’s game qualifies as Knueppel’s worst as a pro. The rookie shot 0-of-7 from beyond the arc and made one shot apiece in the first and fourth quarters. The good news for fantasy managers is that nights like Wednesday have not been the norm for Knueppel, who remains the most productive rookie in this current class. He’ll look to bounce back when the Hornets face the Bulls on Friday in both teams’ NBA Cup finale.

One month into the season, and Knueppel has a strong case for being the league’s best rookie. He had another excellent night on Sunday, hitting a season-high seven three-pointers and shooting over 50 percent from the field. While Charlotte lost both games of its weekend back-to-back, Knueppel put up 54 points and shot 13-of-20 from three. He’s closing in on top-50 value in eight- and nine-cat formats, outperforming his Yahoo! ADP (142) by a significant distance. Charlotte has three games in Week 6, starting with the Knicks on Wednesday.

Knueppel had eight rebounds and seven assists the game against the Pacers on Wednesday, but had just one rebound and one assist against the Clippers on Saturday. The 20-year-old shooting guard had 26 points and made six three-pointers in the loss. Knueppel led the Hornets with 34 minutes in Brandon Miller’s (shoulder) return game.

Knueppel played at least 40 minutes, had at least 28 points and made at least four three-pointers for the second time in his last four games. The 20-year-old shooting guard is off to a tremendous start to his career, certainly putting himself in the Rookie of the Year race. Brandon Miller’s impending return could cut into Knueppel’s usage a little bit, but not a significant amount.