Blow for the Hornets: Kon Knueppel to miss the entire preseason due to an injury

Charlotte Hornets faces a significant setback before the start of the NBA season. Kon Knueppel, one of the franchise's top young stars, will miss all preseason games due to a left hamstring injury, the team announced this Friday.

The setback comes at a particularly crucial time for Charlotte, which hopes to increase Knueppel's responsibilities this season after trading LaMelo Ball to Minnesota over the summer. The player was one of the major revelations for the Hornets during his rookie year, and his absence raises concerns for the team's preparation.

Knueppel misses all four preseason games

The Hornets reported that Knueppel suffered the injury during off-season court activities. The team has decided to rule out the young forward for the four preseason games that Charlotte will play.

The franchise will also be without veteran Grant Williams during those four games, who suffered a right hamstring injury. Both players will be reevaluated once the regular season begins.

Charlotte indicated that the reevaluations will take place "during the first week of the regular season," so the team will have to wait to learn more precisely when both players will be able to return to competition.

Charlotte needs more from Knueppel after LaMelo Ball's departure

Knueppel's injury is even more significant given the context in which the Hornets approach the new season. Charlotte traded LaMelo Ball to Minnesota over the summer, leaving the team in need of new offensive references.

Knueppel is expected to take on greater responsibility after a particularly outstanding rookie season. The rookie finished with 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and a 42.5% shooting percentage from three-point range, figures that positioned him as one of the franchise's most important young players.

Additionally, Knueppel made history during his first season in the NBA by becoming the first rookie to lead the league in three-pointers made, with a total of 273 baskets from beyond the arc.

His outside shooting was, therefore, one of the standout elements of his debut year, and Charlotte hopes he can maintain that level while increasing his role within the team.

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Grant Williams will also be absent

The other player ruled out for the preseason is Grant Williams. The veteran forward suffered a right hamstring injury and will follow the same evaluation schedule as Knueppel.

Williams has seven seasons in the NBA and has career averages of 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. His experience provides a different element within Charlotte's roster, but the injury will prevent him from participating in the preseason preparations.

The Hornets will thus face the four games leading up to the start of the season without two of their players. The franchise will learn in the first week of the regular season how both are progressing and when they can return to the court.

The Hornets will debut on October 21

Charlotte has marked October 21 as the start date of its regular season, when it will visit the Brooklyn Nets. By then, Knueppel's situation will be particularly closely monitored by the Hornets due to the role he is expected to play following LaMelo Ball's departure.

For now, the team has only confirmed that the player will miss the entire preseason and will be reevaluated during the first week of the regular season. There is still no specific return date.

The scenario presents a slight setback for a player who had made a notable impression during his debut season. Knueppel finished with 18.5 points per game and a 42.5% three-point shooting percentage, in addition to setting the rookie record with his 273 three-pointers made.

Charlotte will have to wait to count on one of its key young references, while the team faces a preseason in which it will also not have Grant Williams available.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Golpe para los Hornets: Kon Knueppel se pierde toda la pretemporada por una lesión