Rookie Kon Knueppel makes All-Star weekend with NBA 3-point contest invite

Charlotte Hornets rookie sensation Kon Knueppel has officially accepted an invitation to participate in the 2026 NBA 3-Point Contest during the All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. The news was first reported by Senior NBA Insider Chris Haynes via a tweet that said the rookie will grace the Intuit Dome on February 15th. Knueppel’s selections mark a significant milestone for the 20-year-old sharpshooter who has taken the league by storm this season. He becomes one of the rare rookie participants in the event, joining an elite class of first-year players to compete in the shootout. Kon Knueppel was selected fourth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke and has definitely exceeded all statistical expectations. He has played 50 games so far and has averaged 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 48.25% from the field and 42.5% from beyond the arc on 7.8 attempts per contest.He has also set multiple franchise records this season, including the most 3-points made in a single game with 8 threes, and is also the third rookie in Hornets’ history to record 300+ points and 100+ rebounds in a single month. He also made history by becoming the fastest player in NBA history to reach 100 made three-pointers in just 29 games. As of early February, he has over 166 triples, and if he continues with the same pace, surpassing Keegan Murray’s 206 three-point record set during the 2022-23 season as a rookie wouldn’t seem a far-fetched dream. With the NBA 3-point contest invitation, it is a nod to Knueppel’s historic 2025-26 campaign, where he continues to establish himself as one of the most efficient shooters in the league. Kon Knueppel's participation in the NBA 3-point contest ends a long drought for the Charlotte franchise, as the last Hornet player to ever compete in the 3-Point Contest was Devonte' Graham back in 2020.Kon stands at 6-foot-6 and, with his quick ball release, is expected to translate well to the format of the contest. The Hornets are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference and are putting on some incredible performances on the court that show some elite teamwork, defense, and offense. They are currently on the high wave of a seven-game win streak and have won 8 of their last 10 contests. With a 23-28 record, they are set to lock horns with the Houston Rockets next at Toyota Center.