Kon Knueppel is one of the best offensive weapons in the NCAA, but will his scoring ability translate into the NBA?
Despite losing in the Final Four in an embarrassing collapse, the 2025 Duke Blue Devils are one of the most talented teams ever gathered at the college level and are undoubtedly going to pick NBA talent throughout the first round.
Cooper Flag heads, consensus number one pick, fellow freshmen Kon Knupel and Kaman Maulach, who are similarly picked up at the top, but neither of them presents the balanced skill set that Flag boasts.
Knueppel doesn’t expect to become a transformative NBA prospect, but he has a high ceiling and can play winning basketball at the highest level.
- Age/Date of Birth: 19 (August 3, 2005)
- Nationality: America
- Height/Weight: 6ft 7, 217
- University: Duke Blue Devils
- Career Statistics: 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steel, 47.9 FG%, 40.6 3pt%
- NCAA Tournament Statistics: 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steel, 53.7 FG%, 55.5 3pt%
- Career Highs: 28 points (Georgia Tech), 8 rebounds (vs Wake Forest, Louisville, Louisville), 8 assists (vs Georgia Tech, Kansas)
- NBA comparison: Gordon Hayward
Knueppel is ready for the NBA. He has the size and strength to make up for his lack of athletic ability, and can do a little bit of everything on the offensive side of the ball.
Of course, Flag held the ball in his hands frequently on Duke’s offense, but Knoupel shows flash as a secondary playmaker and ball handler, failing to get the tunnel vision of most high-level NCAA scorers.
By playing next to Flagg, Kueppel, a five-star recruit, learned how to play as a second option.
When it comes to defense, in theory you can catch up with most off-ball players, but you don’t switch easily to guard the ball handler faster.
He can get dribbling thanks to his solid ball handling, but he is ideally a spot-up 3-point shooter. He was able to knock down the shots at their best, with his 40.6% highlighted from the deep, and he led the ACC in a free throw percentage.
Surrounded by Duke stars, Knuppel was able to take many wide open shots as he stepped in. Certainly, he knocked down those shots with very high clips, but can he make them when he has to hurry up and have the defender close? How about handoffs on dribbling? Wasn’t that an action that Duke used so much? Klay Thompson made a living taking those shots for the Golden State Warriors, and Nappel simply has no experience.
On defense, he’s not fast enough to catch up with the ball handler. He can do solid work against the other wings, but don’t expect to switch to stand between Donovan Mitchell and the basket.
He has the strength to pass through the defenders on his way to the rim, but he lacks the hops to get over the defenders on the rim. He has the size and handle to play like Hayward, which is a generous comparison, but at worst he could be a bigger and better Kevin Harter. It’s worth rolling the dice.
Depending on how the lottery draft progresses, he adds Knoupel as a stop shooter next to the Charlotte Hornets Lamelo Ball and Brandon Miller, but Charlotte has his eyes on Flag.
Orlando’s magic loved the oversized lineup, and Knoupel was able to free up space on the floor and give him much needed fire.
The healthy Philadelphia 76ers team was able to use him as an upgrade for Kelly Ubre, but borrows the first round pick for the Oklahoma City Thunder if it’s outside the top six.
Of course, the San Antonio Spurs can fire as many Victor Wenbagnama as possible, and the addition of Cnoupel makes it easier for Keldon Johnson, Julian Champany and even Devin Vassel to trade more established stars.
Knupel’s optimal fit is determined by his shooting. If he can pan out, shoot 40% in the NBA and catch up to defense, then every team willing to have him. There’s always room for more shooters.