Kon Knueppel Made 273 Threes, Shattering a Record, and the League Is Already Watching

Alright, Emerald City, we gotta talk hoops, even if it ain't our Sonics (yet!). The NBA awards season is in full swing, and man, did they drop some bombs this week. We already knew Dallas's Cooper Flagg snagged Rookie of the Year back in April, but Wednesday night, the league officially rolled out the 2025-26 All-Rookie Team. And let me tell you, this squad of future legends? They're already shaping up to be something wild!

Flagg's Numbers Are Straight Up Insane

No shocker, right? Cooper Flagg was a lock for that All-Rookie First Team. The dude isn't just winning awards, he's *producing*. He led ALL rookies, dropping a ridiculous 21 points per game. Add in 6.7 boards and 4.5 assists, all while shooting a clean 46.8% from the field? That's not a rookie, that's a certified stud already. But Flagg wasn't alone. Charlotte's Kon Knueppel, Philly's VJ Edgecombe, San Antonio's Dylan Harper, and Memphis forward Cedric Coward joined him. And talk about Knueppel, huh? Knueppel's shooting? Unbelievable. He wasn't just good, he set a *new rookie record* for most three-pointers in a season. The Hornets guard drained 273 shots from deep, blowing past Keegan Murray's old record of 207 from the 2022-23 season. And get this: he did it while shooting 42.5% from beyond the arc, the best among rookies with at least 80 attempts. He also averaged 18.5 points per game. That kind of shooting can change a team's whole offense, big time.

The Rest of the Rookie Firepower

VJ Edgecombe of the 76ers played 75 games and dropped 16 points a night, which was third-highest among all rookies this season. Dylan Harper from the Spurs, even mostly coming off the bench for 69 games, brought serious depth and those highlight-reel dunks late in the season. And Cedric Coward for the Grizzlies? The man put up 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 62 games, playing 25.8 minutes per outing. These guys are stepping up big time. But wait, there's more! The All-Rookie Second Team is also stacked with talent. Shoutout to New Orleans' Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, Utah's Ace Bailey, Sacramento's Maxime Raynaud, and Toronto's Collin Murray-Boyles. These are names we'll be hearing for years, no doubt. Poor Charlotte big man Ryan Kalkbrenner just barely missed out, with eight other players also getting votes for that Second Team. The future of the league is looking incredibly bright, and these young guns are leading the charge. So, while we're always bleeding green and blue here in the PNW, it's pretty wild to see the sheer talent coming into the NBA. These awards? They're not just trophies, they're a preview of the next era of superstars. Keep an eye on Flagg, Knueppel, and the rest of this rookie class, because they're not just playing, they're already setting records and making waves across the entire league. It's gonna be a blast watching them grow, even if we wish they were rocking the old Sonics green and gold right here at Climate Pledge Arena one day!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.