NBA World Reacts to Kon Knueppel's Dismal Play-In Performance, Crowns Cooper Flagg as ROY

The Charlotte Hornets' prized rookie struggled mightily in the Play-In Tournament, raising doubts about his Rookie of the Year candidacy.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:07am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the raw energy and tension of a basketball game, with the players' forms broken down into abstract geometric shapes and colors.The NBA world reacts to Kon Knueppel's dismal Play-In performance, with many calling for Cooper Flagg to be crowned Rookie of the Year.Today in Miami

Kon Knueppel, the Charlotte Hornets' 4th overall pick, had a disastrous performance in the NBA Play-In Tournament, scoring just 17 points combined over two games while shooting 5-of-22 from the field and 1-of-12 from three-point range. The NBA world quickly reacted, questioning whether Knueppel should still be considered the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, with many suggesting the award should go to Cooper Flagg of the Orlando Magic instead.

Why it matters

Knueppel had a standout regular season, leading the league in made three-pointers, but his collapse in the high-pressure Play-In games has raised serious doubts about his ability to perform on the biggest stages. The Rookie of the Year race between Knueppel and Flagg has been a season-long storyline, and Knueppel's poor showing may have swung the momentum in Flagg's favor.

The details

In the two Play-In games, Knueppel shot just 5-of-22 from the field and 1-of-12 from three-point range, finishing with a combined 17 points. This was a far cry from his regular season performance, where he averaged 18.5 points per game and led the league in made threes. Knueppel was benched in the crunch time of the Hornets' overtime win over the Miami Heat, and his impact was negligible in the blowout loss to the Orlando Magic, who clinched a playoff berth.

  • On April 18, 2026, the Charlotte Hornets were eliminated from the Play-In Tournament after a 121-90 loss to the Orlando Magic.
  • In the two Play-In games, Kon Knueppel shot a combined 5-of-22 from the field and 1-of-12 from three-point range.

The players

Kon Knueppel

A 20-year-old rookie forward for the Charlotte Hornets, who led the NBA in made three-pointers during the regular season but struggled mightily in the Play-In Tournament.

Cooper Flagg

A rookie forward for the Orlando Magic, who has been in a season-long race with Kon Knueppel for the Rookie of the Year award.

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What they’re saying

“Kon Knueppel ROOKIE OF THE YEAR”

— NBACentel, NBA parody account

“Just give Cooper the ROTY already 😤”

— NBA Memes

“KON MAN”

— Hater Report

What’s next

The NBA will announce the Rookie of the Year award in the coming weeks, with Cooper Flagg now seen as the frontrunner after Kon Knueppel's dismal Play-In performance.

The takeaway

Kon Knueppel's collapse in the high-pressure Play-In games has seriously damaged his Rookie of the Year candidacy, with many in the NBA world now calling for the award to go to Cooper Flagg instead. This serves as a stark reminder that regular season success does not always translate to the playoffs, and that the ability to perform under intense scrutiny is a crucial factor in determining the league's top rookie.