Charlotte Hornets fans got a gut punch this past Friday when it was revealed Kon Knueppel suffered a left hamstring injury while training for the 2026-27 NBA season. This is a brutal blow for the former Duke forward and his team, taking a key player off the court before the season even truly begins.
Preseason Wiped Out, Regular Season Start Up In The Air
The hamstring injury means Knueppel is completely sidelined for the entire preseason. This isn’t just a bump or a minor setback; he won’t be back on the court for exhibition games. The hope is he’ll be re-evaluated during the first week of the regular season, which tells you everything about the uncertainty surrounding his return. For a guy who was gearing up to build on a monster season, missing all of preseason reps is tough.
Charlotte Will Miss Its Three-Point King
Knueppel’s absence is especially felt because of what he brought to the court last season. He was the definition of durability, playing in an incredible 81 of 82 regular season contests. He wasn’t just there; he was *producing*, averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 0.7 steals. But the real standout? His shooting. He shot an insane 42.5% from beyond the arc. Not only that, he actually led the entire league in three-pointers made, even breaking the rookie record for threes in a single season. Those are massive shoes to fill, even for a short time.
The Hornets really need Knueppel back on the court as soon as possible. They kick off their 2026-27 campaign on October 21 against the Brooklyn Nets. Let’s hope that re-evaluation brings good news for Knueppel and Charlotte.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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