Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel is expected to miss the start of the 2026-27 NBA season due to a strained left hamstring, the team reported on Friday. The 21-year-old sustained the injury during offseason on-court activities, according to the Hornets. Veteran forward Grant Williams also suffered a hamstring strain, this time in his right leg. Both players are set to sit out Charlotte’s preseason games and will be reassessed in the first week of the regular season.
NBA training camps kick off next week on September 29, with the Hornets’ first preseason game slated for October 6. Their regular-season opener is scheduled for October 21, with both the preseason and regular-season first games against the Brooklyn Nets.
Last season, the 6-foot-6 Knueppel, known for his sharpshooting, finished second in the NBA Rookie of the Year race, narrowly missing out to 2025 top draft pick Cooper Flagg. Averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, Knueppel was selected fourth overall from Duke in the 2025 NBA Draft. He led the league by making 273 three-pointers on 673 attempts, shooting an impressive 43% from beyond the arc.
Knueppel played a key role in a remarkable turnaround for the Hornets, who improved their record from a league-worst 19-63 to 44-38, earning the No. 9 seed in the NBA Play-In Tournament. Charlotte entered the Play-In as one of the league’s most dynamic teams but was ultimately eliminated after an overtime victory against the Miami Heat followed by a heavy loss to the Orlando Magic. By then, the long season had taken its toll on Knueppel, who managed just 17 points and made only 1 of 12 three-point attempts across the two games.
Following the surprising trades of LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miles Bridges to the Phoenix Suns, Knueppel was expected to take on a larger leadership role. Alongside rising star Brandon Miller, he is projected to be a cornerstone of a Hornets team looking to contend, bolstered by re-signings like guard Coby White, promising rookie center Hannes Steinbach, guard Christian Anderson, and the addition of center Naz Reid as well as guards Grayson Allen, Buddy Hield, and Ryan Nembhard in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference.
Grant Williams, who is 27, averaged 7 points and 3.9 rebounds last season while shooting 39% from three-point range. He has been limited to just 52 games over the past two years due to recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee.
Fan Take:
This injury update is significant for basketball fans because Knueppel’s development is central to the Hornets’ future success and could influence the balance of power in the Eastern Conference. How quickly he and Williams recover will be critical, as their availability can shape Charlotte’s performance and playoff aspirations in an already stacked league.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
