The Charlotte Hornets will be without sharpshooter Kon Knueppel for at least the entire preseason due to a left hamstring injury, the team announced on Friday.

Knueppel, who sustained the injury during offseason on-court activities, will be re-evaluated during the first week of the regular season.

Knueppel is coming off a stellar season where he became the first rookie to lead the league with 273 made 3-pointers.

He averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, connected on 42.5 percent from long range and finished second in NBA Rookie of the Year voting behind former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks.

The 21-year-old Knueppel was expected to take on an even bigger role this season after the Hornets traded LeMelo Ball to Minnesota over the summer.

Charlotte opens the regular season at Brooklyn on Oct. 21.

OFFICIAL: Kon Knueppel suffered a left hamstring injury and Grant Williams suffered a right hamstring injury during offseason on-court activity. Both players will miss our preseason games and be re-evaluated during the first week of the regular season.

Read the release:… pic.twitter.com/23HAlWX5QI

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) September 25, 2026