What happened: The 21-year-old Knueppel hit 42.5% from beyond the arc in 2025-26. He became the first rookie to lead the NBA in made threes.
Why it matters: That blend of volume and efficiency gives Charlotte an established perimeter threat entering 2026-27. Defenses now have a full season of evidence to shape their coverage around him.
By the numbers: Knueppel made 3.37 threes per game across 81 appearances, converting 273 of 642 attempts. He surpassed the previous rookie record of 206 by 67 makes, a 32.5% increase.
What to watch: Watch how Knueppel handles tighter perimeter coverage while maintaining his shooting volume in Year 2.