Kon Knueppel, the team’s most dangerous shooter, will miss at least four weeks with a left hamstring strain, according to a report. Kon Knueppel’s injury news comes right after he played just six minutes before limping off the court last week. The team confirmed the diagnosis on Sunday, and the timeline for his return is bleak for a squad already struggling to win games.
Knueppel was supposed to be the engine of the offense this year. He led the entire NBA in three-pointers made last season with 273 while shooting 42.5 percent from deep. His absence creates a massive hole in the lineup that no one can easily fill. The Hornets are now stuck with a 3-7 record, a start that feels far too familiar for a franchise hoping to build on last year’s success.
A Double Dose of Bad News
The injury wave hitting Charlotte is not limited to just one player. Dennis Schröder, the veteran guard acquired to help run the offense, is also out with a left hamstring strain. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks, which leaves the Hornets with very few options at the guard position. This double blow has forced the team to look at players like Coby White to carry a heavier load than anyone expected so early in the season.
According to the team announcement on X, Knueppel is listed as out for the game against Cleveland on November 9. The situation looks even worse when you consider that Brandon Miller also left the last game with a hip strain. Miller struggled mightily against the Celtics, scoring only eight points in a 39-point loss. Without his primary scorers healthy, the Hornets have no clear path to stop the bleeding.
Can the Young Squad Survive?
The memory of the team’s strong finish last season is fading fast. The Hornets started that year 4-14 before going on a hot streak to end it. That kind of turnaround is still possible, but the margin for error is now gone. The team traded LaMelo Ball in the offseason hoping Knueppel and Miller would step up as the new leaders. So far this year, injuries have prevented Knueppel from playing for more than a total of six minutes.
Per Blazer’s Edge, the loss of Knueppel’s scoring and shooting efficiency makes the six-game losing streak even harder to break. The team needs him back on the court to space the floor and take pressure off Miller. Until the team gets healthy, they will likely continue to struggle against good opponents. The Hornets will face the Cleveland Cavaliers next, a matchup that could prove difficult without their top sharpshooter. Knueppel is set to be re-evaluated in four weeks.
