Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel headlines Charlotte’s surge behind defense
hornets-rookie-kon-knueppel-headlines-charlottes-surge-behind-defense
No. 4 overall pick Kon Knueppel continues to post standout numbers for the Charlotte Hornets, averaging 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists on .484/.431/.902 shooting across 54 games (32.1 minutes). The 20-year-old wing, who has captured each of the season’s first three Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month awards, said the club’s recent 10-1 stretch is rooted in a sharper defensive approach.
“I really think just defensively, our attention to detail and our competitiveness on that end,” Knueppel said. “We’re a pretty good offensive team, but the biggest reason is our change of mindset on the defensive end.”
Ball’s leadership gains praise
Charlotte’s climb up the Eastern Conference standings has also coincided with LaMelo Ball staying healthy—he has appeared in 29 straight contests—and embracing a larger leadership role. Head coach Charles Lee challenged the point guard at halftime Wednesday after several defensive lapses against Atlanta. Ball, 24, responded with key stops late in the game.
“By challenge, it’s not like you go at him, but you make him aware,” Lee said. “Atlanta’s game plan was to put him in almost every action. For him to step up was big time. It shows he keeps growing into a consistent competitor who impacts winning on both ends.”
Veteran swingman Pat Connaughton echoed that sentiment. “I just see the maturity level growing,” he said. “He believes in his own abilities, the team’s abilities, and knows when he moves the basketball it’s going to come back.”
Short-handed wins and All-Star break outlook
Wednesday’s victory pushed the Hornets to 26-29 despite four-game suspensions for starters Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabaté following their involvement in a fight. Charlotte sits ninth in the East heading into the All-Star break.
“With 27 games to go, we’ve built this mindset, this resolve, this identity,” Lee said. “As the guys get a day or two to recover, we’ll think about what we want to accomplish when we come back.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
