"Kon Knueppel makes history in the NBA! This is the record he has broken"

Kon Knueppel continues to build a memorable rookie season. The Charlotte Hornets small forward set a new rookie record for threes in the NBA by nailing triple number 207, surpassing the mark previously held by Keegan Murray.

The milestone came on Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers, in a convincing 133-109 victory. Knueppel had already punished from beyond the arc in the first half with five threes, officially breaking the record in the third quarter after receiving an assist from Sion James, his former teammate at Duke.

He ended the game with 28 points and 8 threes (8 of 12), matching his personal best and falling just one short of the historic rookie record for threes in a single game.

Murray had needed 80 games in the 2022-23 season to set the previous record. Knueppel achieved it in just 59 games.

Interestingly, the player himself was unaware of the exact moment when he broke the record. "Honestly, I thought I needed seven," he confessed after the game.

He currently leads the league with 209 threes and shoots an impressive 44.2% from long range.

Inevitable Comparisons

The all-time record for threes in a season is still held by Stephen Curry, who made 402 in the 2015-16 season. For reference, Curry hit 166 threes in 80 games during his rookie year with the Golden State Warriors.

Curry himself recently praised the young shooter: "You can't leave him open at all. He has a very quick release and shoots with confidence. And his game is very underrated."

In the Race for Rookie of the Year

Knueppel has become a strong contender for the Rookie of the Year award, competing with his former college teammate at Duke, Cooper Flagg, the current number one draft pick and player for the Dallas Mavericks.

He also recently surpassed Donovan Mitchell on the all-time list of threes scored by a rookie.

Mitchell, now a star for the Cleveland Cavaliers, highlighted the young forward's maturity: "We know he can shoot, but his ability to create advantages in the pick-and-roll and play in the mid-range is truly unique."

Impact on Charlotte

Beyond the numbers, Knueppel has been a key piece in the competitive resurgence of the Hornets, who have not made the playoffs since the 2015-16 season. Under the guidance of coach Charles Lee and alongside LaMelo Ball, the rookie has seamlessly fit into a system that enhances his catch-and-shoot ability (93% of his threes come off assists).

Humble and effective, Knueppel stays focused: "It's about making the right play. My teammates put me in good positions, and I just try to help the team."

With his 207th three —and counting—, Knueppel's debut season is already etched in the record books.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¡Kon Knueppel hace historia en la NBA! Este es el récord que ha batido