The Charlotte Hornets emerged victorious in a hard-fought 83-78 battle against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night, securing their first-ever NBA Summer League championship.
Leading the charge was Kon Knueppel, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, who delivered an impressive 21-point performance and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
The player showcased consistency and scoring prowess throughout the event, averaging 18.3 points per game over the final four matchups.
Demonstrating his competitive mindset, Knueppel emphasized the team’s intent from the outset: “Like I said before, if you’re going to come here, you should win,” he stated. “So, that’s what we did.”
Ryan Kalkbrenner provided a solid boost for Charlotte as well, contributing 15 points to the win.
Despite a strong showing from the Kings, who were paced by Isaac Jones’ 24-point, 11-rebound double-double and ended Summer League play with a 5-1 record, it was the Hornets who remained unbeaten, finishing a flawless 6-0 run and hoisting the championship trophy to cap off a dominant summer campaign.
Hornets Win First Summer League Title; Kon Knueppel Named MVP https://t.co/2dzteA3kjk
— RealGM (@RealGM) July 21, 2025
