Hornets' Kon Knueppel earns second Player of the Week nomination

Charlotte Hornets rookie guard Kon Knueppel was nominated for the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week award, the league announced on Monday.

Knueppel averaged 26.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, three assists and one steal on 52.4% shooting from 3-point range in four games last week. He scored at least 20 points in each appearance, the longest such streak by a rookie this season.

The fourth pick was previously nominated for the award earlier this month for games played from Nov. 3-9. He is the only rookie to be considered for the award in either conference.

Knueppel is averaging 19.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists on 43.8% shooting from 3-point range in 17 games with the Hornets. He leads all rookies in scoring and is the only first-year player with multiple 30-point performances this season.

The 20-year-old has knocked down 63 3-pointers to begin the season, the most by any player through the first 17 games of a career in history. He is on pace to shatter the rookie record, set by Keegan Murray during the 2022-23 season (206).

Knueppel has emerged as the top rookie standout in the early going, playing a crucial role for coach Charles Lee and the team. He has impressed those around him and has made a significant impact on the court.

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Hornets news: Kon Knueppel earns second Player of the Week nomination