Hornets small forward Kon Knueppel sets NBA record for most three-pointers in a season by a rookie

Kon Knueppel (X)

History was made in the National Basketball Association on Thursday, as Charlotte Hornets small forward Kon Knueppel of Milwaukee, Wisconsin set the NBA record for most three-pointers in a single season by a rookie according to the Associated Press.  The record came in a dominant 133-109 Hornets win over the Indiana Pacers.

Knueppel, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke University, set the record with his 207th three-pointer of the season. The previous record belonged to Sacramento Kings small forward Keegan Murray of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who had 206 three-pointers during the 2022-23 NBA season.

Knueppel’s historic three-pointer came with one minute and five seconds left in the third quarter. He made a 26-foot shot to put the Hornets up 103-77 any the time. Hornets shooting guard Sion James of Sugar Hill, Georgia had the lone assist.

Knueppel tied a career-high with eight three-pointers in the game. He also had eight three-pointers in a 123-121 Hornets win over the Dallas Mavericks on January 29.

For the season, Knueppel is averaging 19.4 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game and 3.5 assists per game. He also has a field goal percentage of .491, three point percentage of .442 and free throw percentage of .893. It is fair to say that Knueppel is the favourite to become the second Hornets player to be named NBA Rookie of the Year in the last six seasons, following point guard LaMelo Ball of Anaheim, California, who received the honour in 2020-21. 

Even though Knueppel set the NBA record for most three pointers in a single season by a rookie, he is far off from the NBA record for most three-pointers in a season. Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry of Akron, Ohio has that record as he had 402 three-pointers in the 2015-16 season.