GAMENOTES: Summer League Game #3 Charlotte Hornets (2-0) vs. Dallas Mavericks (1-1) - July 14th, 2025
How Kon Got His Groove Back
FINAL
Charlotte Hornets 87 (3-0) - Dallas Mavericks 69 (1-2)
WHY DID THEY WIN/LOSE? (AND OTHER IMPORTANT STORIES)
All eyes were on Kon Knueppel (16 points, 10 rebounds 4 assists) after he struggled in Game #1 of Summer League and then sat in Game #2. In the first quarter, it looked like more of the same as he struggled to get open space from a Mavs defense that really keyed in on him. After checking in with the bench unit near the end of the first he got much more aggressive and aftere hitting his first pull up 3 of summer league things really started to click. He flashed heads up defense and interior passing, quick pull up scoring over the defense and a number of offensive rebounds that helped the Hornets chain good possessions. He needed this bounce back. Fans need to see it. The idea that Kon didn’t need to show off his skills in Summer League was too galaxy-brained a take for me. He’s a top 5 pick. Top 5 picks in decent to good drafts should be able to take control of a Summer League game for at least a quarter. Kon did that. The kid is alright.
With that being said, defenses aren’t going to be able to double him and stay attached to him in the corner when he’s sharing the floor with LaMelo and/or Brandon and/or Sexton. He’ll have plenty of simple wide open looks and space to make plays. He’ll also have plenty of time to develop the craftiness he’ll need to get NBA open and ascend to 2nd or 3rd best player on the roster.
KJ Simpson continued to showcase strong offensive command leading the Hornets with 18 points while making room late for Kon Knueppel to run some offense. I think he’s done enough to keep investing in his development. With all of the guard they’ve added it’s difficult to see a role for him early in the season.
On the flipside, I think we’ve found the upper limits of Damian Baugh.
Tidjane Salaun had a tougher time getting good looks in this one. Kon was mostly dishing to Kalkbrenner and PJ Hall. Salaun was left to create on his own to very mixed results. Only 1 turnover and played good defense. This was actually a good quiet game in that he didn’t try to force things every time he touched the ball.
The Hornets shot the ball well against a Mavs SL squad without Cooper Flagg and lined themselves up for a 4-0 finish and an SL postseason berth.
NEWS AND NOTES
Cooper Flagg was ruled out for the rest of summer league prior to this game.
That makes the 1st, 3rd and 5th pick that all avoided matching up with Kon
Liam McNeeley (R Achilles Tendinopathy) and Sion James (L Hip Soreness) were ruled
These seemed precautionary more than anything
This game began late because the previous game went into OT. The worst of sins.
New Vegas Rules
1OT: you have to use a celebrity coach.
2OT: each team loses a 2nd rounder.
Starters: KJ, Kon, Sims, TJ, Kalkbrenner
THINGS I THINK I SAW
1st Quarter
Kon gets got by Nembhard on a few possessions early but only results in 3 points.
Kalkbrenner knocks down the wide wide wide open 3 from the top of the key.
7:00 - Jaylen Sims really nice, aggressive start to the game (but can we see some more Kon plz?)
6:23 - Kalkbrenner waaaaaayyy off on the simply wide open 3 off the Kon kickout on the left wing.
KNUEPPLE BLOCK on Ryan Nembhard. Kon gets over the screen, doesn’t quit on the play.
Tidjane Salaun gets into transition. Takes it by himself. Total blinders on and then smokes the open layup. He has to - HAS TO - hit that.
4:02 - There are blowbys and then there is what happened to Kalkbrenner on this play. Kalkbrenner bites on a jab step and then seizes up.
Hornets playing too fast and too selfish. Guys are feeling the “tick tick tick” of this opportunity.
This is the most summer league that Hornets summer league has felt so far
1:54 - nice job by PJ Hall jumping this perimeter pass
1:43 - Kon quick ball fake off the catch drive and draws the foul.
1:03 - PJ HALL FOLLOW YAMS
Kon gets MUCH more aggressive after checking in with this bench unit. Love it.
:00 - Nice action to get TJ an open corner 3 but he CLANGS it.
KJ and Sims gobbling up a lot of possessions.We need to get real here.
2nd Quarter
9:00 - Nembhard is putting Kon in the torture chamber on these screens. Kon struggling to create spacing. He was fouled on a shot but 0 official attempts
8:19 - BAUGH look to the corner, look somewhere.
7:47 - This time they switch the screen on Kon to deny him space. Kon good cut after giving to PJ Hall but Hall isn’t good enough to find him.
PJ HALL BLOCK PARTY
6:05 - TINY DUNK: KJ Simpson with the hops
4:50 - Tidjane gets it on the roll but you could see KJ hesitate bc he knew the defense was waiting and he also knew that Tidjane didn’t care. Catch, two pump fakes and he gets it blocked easily.
4:20 - Kon checks back in
3:26 - Kon great defense on an attempt he’ll probably never see in the bigs. He shoots it quick on the other end and shorts it again. Most if not all of his deep misses have been short.
1:50 - QUICK CATCH AND SHOOT KON off the Kalk screen ATB for 3! Thank goodness.
Next possession drives, draws and dishes to Kalk.
They run some action for Kon out of the corner to get him a look from the left wing. Kon drives and misses.
3rd Quarter
Kon misses the step through floater but taps the OREB to Kalkbrenner for the cleanup
9:16 - Kon FOULED on the putback. Great effort to get in there.
Kon getting targeted a bit on defense.
Kalkbrenner can’t replicate the success of that 1st triple
NIFTY GIFTY: Kon Knueppel behind the back, hesi, left hand dish to PJ Hall
Kon cuts and PJ Hall can’t hit him. This is why Kon is going to be alright. He’ll shoot a lot of wide open jumpers and open layups off cuts until he learns how to get NBA open.
KON STEPS INTO A 3 and yaks it.
and a disruption on the final possession for good measure.
THE KID IS ALRIGHT
4th Quarter
Knueppel up to 10 rebounds. He has an SL double double. 7 dimes away from a triple double.
7:55 - Kalkbrenner nice pass fake into a pull up 3. Doesn’t miss it by much.
Kon drives and gets ALL KINDS of contact. Does he panic? No he just finds PJ Hall for the dump and dunk.
Hornets win! And they win big! Great for their prospects at an SL title.
I was really impressed with Kon's ability to handle the ball and facilitate. Seemed to have a strong handle and a solid P&R ball handler. Much preferred the offense with him as a primary initiator to KJ - who turns it over too much for my liking.
Kon also impressed with his passing. Always seemed to make the right pass that did not always generate an assist, but did create chances to score.
We are going to be big fans of this kid. He knows how to play and has a great feel for the game. He will make other guys better and his skills will be accentuated by other quality NBA players that can provide spacing & playmaking.
The kid is a stud.
A good win, and I wonder if they are going to give the draft picks and 2nd year players the last game off/limited run(every other team is pretty much shut down for the rest of summer league)