Charlotte Hornets rookie Konupel II took just 29 games to hit his first 100 career three-pointers, breaking the previous fastest record.
In a 139-132 loss to Cleveland on December 22, Knuupel scored 20 points on five three-pointers, including his 100th career three-pointer in the final minute of the first quarter. Lauri Markkanen reached the 100-point mark from three-point range in 41 games, the fastest previously, while Keegan Murray and Luka Dončić needed 42 games.
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The Milwaukee native has excelled with the Hornets after being selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He averaged 19.4 points per game and shot 41.4% from three-point range in the Milwaukee area and 47.4% overall. He also averaged 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists, although the Hornets are just 9-20 on the year after the loss.
December 22, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) dribbles the ball during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Knuppel, whose family hosted a meal for the Hornets during their final trip to Milwaukee on Nov. 14, will return home for a game at Fiserv Forum on Jan. 2. The Hornets will also host Milwaukee on December 29th.
Knuupel briefly topped the BetMGM odds leaderboard in the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year race, though former Duke teammate and No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg is now at minus-200, ahead of Knuupel (+180), Pelicans breakout Derek Quinn (+1,200) and the 76ers’ V.J. Edgecombe (+2,800). FanDuel’s leaderboard ranks players similarly.
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Flagg averaged 18.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for the Dallas Mavericks, shooting 47.8% from the field. He also averaged 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Hornets player Con Knuppel breaks NBA rookie record by a huge margin
