Hornets' Knueppel Has Quiet Night in Rising Stars Challenge

Charlotte rookie guard Kon Knueppel struggled in his Rising Stars debut, but looks to bounce back in 3-point contest.

Feb. 14, 2026 at 10:39pm

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Charlotte Hornets rookie guard Kon Knueppel had a quiet night in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, scoring just 5 points on 2-of-4 shooting with 3 rebounds and 1 assist in 10 minutes of play as his Team T-Mac lost 41-36 to Team Vince. Knueppel will look to bounce back tonight in the 3-point contest, where he'll compete against a stacked field including Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, and Jamal Murray.

Why it matters

The Rising Stars Challenge is an important showcase for young NBA talent, and Knueppel's performance will be closely watched as he looks to establish himself as one of the league's top young sharpshooters. His ability to bounce back in the 3-point contest could be an early indicator of his potential stardom.

The details

Knueppel was the No. 2 overall pick in the Rising Stars draft by Team T-Mac, with former NBA star Tracy McGrady praising the Hornets rookie and saying he likely would have been the top pick if McGrady had the choice. However, Knueppel struggled to find his shot in the game, going 0-for-2 from 3-point range. Team T-Mac was eliminated from the Rising Stars Challenge after the loss.

  • The Rising Stars Challenge took place on Friday, February 13, 2026 in Inglewood, California.
  • The 3-point contest that Knueppel will participate in is scheduled for tonight, February 14, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET.

The players

Kon Knueppel

A rookie guard for the Charlotte Hornets who was the No. 2 overall pick in the Rising Stars draft.

Tracy McGrady

A former NBA star who drafted Knueppel with the No. 2 overall pick in the Rising Stars draft and praised the young Hornets guard.

Vince Carter

A former NBA star who shared his thoughts on Knueppel and Cooper Flagg going 1-2 in the Rising Stars draft.

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What they’re saying

“I'm standing on that. I'm still standing on that. That kid is amazing. I love watching him play. He shoots the crap out of the ball.”

— Tracy McGrady

“I think it's the first basketball draft in history where two white guys went one and two.”

— Vince Carter

“It was fun to get out there. Obviously, didn't get it done. Wish I would have made a couple more, but sometimes the ball doesn't go in. It was fun to get out there and compete in front of the fans and all that.”

— Kon Knueppel

What’s next

Knueppel will look to bounce back tonight when he competes in the 3-point contest alongside a stacked field including Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, and Jamal Murray. If he can win the event, he would become the first rookie to ever do so.

The takeaway

Knueppel's quiet debut in the Rising Stars Challenge is an early test for the young Hornets guard, but his ability to compete against the league's top shooters in the 3-point contest will be a better indicator of his potential stardom. A strong showing could help establish Knueppel as one of the NBA's most promising young talents.