Kon Knueppel Shatters Rookie Three Point Record for Hornets

Merlin sees Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel rewrite the record book. In a 133-109 win at Indiana he buried his 207th three of the season, breaking Keegan Murray’s rookie mark in just 59 games. Knueppel finished with 28 points on 10-for-17 shooting and 8-for-12 from deep. The No. 4 pick shot 40.6 percent from long range at Duke and now averages 19.3 points through 58 games, leading rookies with about 7.9 three-point attempts per game and 43.6 percent accuracy. Merlin knows hot shooters shift the balance of a team. Knueppel’s elite efficiency and volume have stretched defenses and helped power Charlotte’s recent win streaks, nudging them toward the play-in for the first time since 2016. With 22 games left he can pad the record, but opponents will scheme harder. If his shot keeps falling, the Hornets ride him deep into May.