Former Duke Blue Devil Kon Knueppel had a stellar rookie campaign for the Charlotte Hornets, averaging 18.5 points and leading the league in three-pointers made while shooting 42.5% from beyond the arc.

However, the Milwaukee, Wisconsin native is still focused on improving after the Hornets fell short of the NBA Playoffs.

In an exit interview, Knueppel addressed a comment made by his head coach, Charles Lee, who challenged him to be a better leader and communicator during the 2026-27 season.

"That definitely is an area of improvement," said Knueppel. "As a rookie, you're kind of just trying to figure it out, and that's hard to do. But every time I had something to say, he would text me and say, 'It was great to have you talking. We need your voice.' That will definitely be an area of emphasis, just coming in next year and being more vocal."

Now with a strong season under his belt, Knueppel and the Hornets will hope to take an even bigger leap next year and end their 11-year playoff drought in the process.

This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Kon Knueppel reveals area for improvement ahead of 2026-27 season