Feb. 26, 2026 — INDIANAPOLIS — Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel, the No. 4 pick out of Duke, set a new NBA rookie record for 3-pointers made when he sank his 207th long-range shot Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers. Knueppel hit five triples in the first half and broke Keegan Murray’s rookie mark early in the third on a 3-pointer assisted by former Duke teammate Sion James.
Knueppel finished with 28 points in the Hornets’ 133-109 win, going 8-for-12 from beyond the arc — matching his career high for makes in a game and leaving him with 209 3s on the season, which leads the league. He reached the record in just 59 games; Murray’s previous mark came in 80 games (2022-23).
Knueppel is shooting 44.2% from 3-point range this season and, according to Cleaning the Glass, 93% of his triples have come off assists. He has attempted 473 3s this year. For perspective, Stephen Curry made 166 3s as a rookie (2009-10) and holds the single-season record with 402.
Asked about his hot hand, Knueppel credited teammates and coaching for putting him in the right spots and said he was just trying to make the right play. He admitted he hadn’t kept close track of the exact number needed to break the record and joked that he thought he needed seven.
Knueppel’s shooting has thrust him into Rookie of the Year conversations alongside former Duke teammate and roommate Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick. Charlotte’s breakout season has pushed the franchise back toward playoff contention for the first time since 2015-16.
Hornets coach Charles Lee said Knueppel’s combination of high-level play and low-key demeanor lifts the organization’s culture and becomes contagious throughout the team. Opponents have taken notice as well: Stephen Curry praised Knueppel’s quick release, confidence and playmaking, and Donovan Mitchell — whom Knueppel passed earlier this season on the rookie 3s list — complimented the way Knueppel makes shooting look effortless and highlighted his midrange game and small pick-and-roll work.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.