Kon Knueppel highlighted Charlotte’s season-long progression after the Hornets secured the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 110-96 win over the New York Knicks on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
“We showed the standings when we were 4 and 14 and now to finish 44 and 38,” Knueppel said, describing the team’s mid-season climb. “Pretty cool. Talked about the resilience of the team and the organization that want to win the games and fight and fight to get better every day.”
The Hornets entered the postseason picture after a 33-16 run in 2026, closing the regular season at 44-38. Knueppel pointed to early-season inconsistency as the defining challenge.
“I think definitely the beginning of the season when we weren’t healthy and we were losing a bunch, losing a lot of close ones. That was a tough point for the season for sure,” he said.
Charlotte’s momentum swing was anchored by a nine-game winning streak in the middle of the campaign. Knueppel called it a key reference point for the team’s identity shift.
“Most rewarding that nine game win streak we went on in the middle of the season. It was really fun. We’re playing really good basketball,” he said.
The rookie season also included a record-setting perimeter shooting output, with Knueppel finishing among the league leaders in made three-pointers. He emphasized decision-making alongside LaMelo Ball as a driving factor in the system’s effectiveness.
“We were passing each other good looks, just trying to make the right reads,” Knueppel said. “We were passing it back and forth trying to make the right play.”
Charlotte’s late-season cohesion was built during summer work and continuity in team environments, according to Knueppel.
“We were all in the building all the time in the summer,” he said. “Just the commitment to getting better each day. That’s what coach preaches with each game, each practice.”
The Hornets now shift focus to a play-in matchup against the Miami Heat on Tuesday in Charlotte, with a second elimination game potentially following. Knueppel emphasized execution in late-game situations as a deciding factor.
“We just got to execute in the fourth quarter especially when the game slows down,” he said. “We got to make sure we’re all prepared, all ready to go, watching our tape.”
Charlotte’s 17-24 road record contrasts with a stronger home environment, adding importance to hosting the opening play-in game. Knueppel acknowledged the value of that position.
“It’s big. We got to live to fight another day. Now we got to take it one game at a time,” he said. “It’s nice to be playing the game at home.”
The rookie also reflected on the broader trajectory of the organization, which improved from early-season struggles to postseason contention.
“I think that this group has earned the respect or notoriety of the league,” Knueppel said. “The progress that we made as individual players but also as a collective group and organization is definitely just raising people’s attention level to the Hornets.”
With postseason pressure ahead, Knueppel framed the next step as an opportunity rather than a milestone already achieved.
“You don’t know what it’s like until you play it,” he said. “I’m really pumped to get out there for the challenge.”
