Charlotte Hornets sharpshooter Kon Knueppel sustained a left hamstring injury during an offseason on-court activity and could miss the start of the regular season.
The Hornets said Friday that Knueppel and forward Grant Williams (right hamstring) will miss the preseason before being re-evaluated during the first week of the regular season. The Hornets open the campaign on Oct. 21 against the host Brooklyn Nets.
Knueppel, who turned 21 last month, became the first rookie to lead the NBA in 3-pointers last season when he knocked down 273. He shot 42.5% from long range while averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
Knueppel finished second in NBA Rookie of the Year balloting behind former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks.
The 6-foot-6 Knueppel was the fourth overall pick of the 2025 draft. The plan is to depend on him in the lead role more often after the offseason trade of LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Williams, also hurt during an on-court activity, averaged 7.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in 36 games (three starts) for Charlotte last season. He is beginning his third full season with the Hornets after ACL and meniscus tears sustained in November 2024 led him to miss nearly 13 months.
Williams, 27, has averaged 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in 416 career games (111 starts) in seven seasons with the Boston Celtics (2019-23), Dallas Mavericks (2023-24) and Hornets.
