Mark Giannotto, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports Mon, November 9, 2026 at 5:36 PM UTC · 3 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The start to this NBA season just went from bad to worse for the Charlotte Hornets .
Kon Knueppel is expected to miss an extended amount of action after reaggravating the same left hamstring injury that forced him to miss the beginning of the 2026-27 NBA season. The latest setback was particularly cruel, just six minutes into his season debut for the Hornets.
Charlotte had been eagerly awaiting Knueppel's return to the lineup after he led the NBA in 3-pointers and finished runner-up to former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg in Rookie of the Year voting . But the latest update from team officials confirmed Knueppel won't be back on the court soon to help a Hornets team in a rough patch earlier than expected this season.
Here's the latest on Knueppel's injury situation and how it affects the Hornets:
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(Steph Chambers, Getty Images) The shoes of Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns are seen during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on October 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) The shoes of Ja Morant of the Portland Trail Blazers are seen during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Moda Center on October 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) Detail of the Skechers sneakers worn by Julius Randle of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Barclays Center on October 21, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) A detailed view of the shoes of Keaton Wagler of the Los Angeles Clippers before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Intuit Dome on October 21, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Luke Hales, Getty Images) A detailed view of Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks shoes prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on October 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) A detailed view of Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks shoes prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on October 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) A detailed view of LeBron James of the Philadelphia 76ers shoes during the third quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) Shoes worn by Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on October 20, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus, Getty Images) A detailed view of Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks shoes during the third quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) A close up of the sneakers worn by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors during the second half of their preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center on October 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) A close up of the sneakers worn by Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors during the first half of their preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center on October 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) A close up of the sneakers worn by Ja Morant of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) A detailed view of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoes during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on October 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) A detailed view of the KD19 shoes worn by Quadir Copeland of the Houston Rockets during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center on October 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) A detailed view of the shoes of Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings in a preseason game at Crypto.com Arena on October 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Luke Hales, Getty Images) Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons shoes during a pre season game against the Phoenix Suns at Little Caesars Arena on October 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus, Getty Images) A view of the shoes worn by Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers during Cleveland Cavaliers Media Day at Rocket Arena on September 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Nick Cammett, Getty Images) A detailed view of Kevin Durant of the Houston Rockets shoes as he poses for a photo during the Houston Rockets Media Day at Hilton Americas-Houston on September 22, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) 1 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season Signature shoes, rare colorways and player exclusives help NBA stars stand out this season. Take a look at some of the coolest sneakers being worn around the league. A close up of the Li-Ning sneakers worn by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors during their game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center on October 23, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 1 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season Signature shoes, rare colorways and player exclusives help NBA stars stand out this season. Take a look at some of the coolest sneakers being worn around the league. A close up of the Li-Ning sneakers worn by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors during their game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center on October 23, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 2 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A close up of the Nike sneakers worn by Cameron Boozer of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 23, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 3 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of of the shoes worn by Jaylen Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Emilee Chinn, Getty Images) 4 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of shoes on guard Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Emilee Chinn, Getty Images) 5 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of LeBron James' of the Philadelphia 76ers shoes during the first quarter of a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Emilee Chinn, Getty Images) 6 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of the basketball shoes of Trae Young of the Washington Wizards against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Capital One Arena on October 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Patrick Smith, Getty Images) 7 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season The shoes of Yang Hansen of the Portland Trail Blazers are seen during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Moda Center on October 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) 8 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season The shoes of Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns are seen during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on October 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) 9 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season The shoes of Ja Morant of the Portland Trail Blazers are seen during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Moda Center on October 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) 10 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season Detail of the Skechers sneakers worn by Julius Randle of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Barclays Center on October 21, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) 11 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of the shoes of Keaton Wagler of the Los Angeles Clippers before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Intuit Dome on October 21, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Luke Hales, Getty Images) 12 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks shoes prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on October 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) 13 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks shoes prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on October 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) 14 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of LeBron James of the Philadelphia 76ers shoes during the third quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) 15 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season Shoes worn by Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on October 20, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus, Getty Images) 16 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks shoes during the third quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) 17 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A close up of the sneakers worn by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors during the second half of their preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center on October 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 18 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A close up of the sneakers worn by Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors during the first half of their preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center on October 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 19 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A close up of the sneakers worn by Ja Morant of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 20 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoes during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on October 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) 21 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of the KD19 shoes worn by Quadir Copeland of the Houston Rockets during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center on October 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) 22 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of the shoes of Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings in a preseason game at Crypto.com Arena on October 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Luke Hales, Getty Images) 23 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons shoes during a pre season game against the Phoenix Suns at Little Caesars Arena on October 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus, Getty Images) 24 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A view of the shoes worn by Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers during Cleveland Cavaliers Media Day at Rocket Arena on September 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Nick Cammett, Getty Images) 25 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of Kevin Durant of the Houston Rockets shoes as he poses for a photo during the Houston Rockets Media Day at Hilton Americas-Houston on September 22, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) NBA ROOKIE RANKINGS: Top player so far wasn't a top-10 pick
The Hornets announced Sunday that Knueppel has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in four weeks. The injury is a recurrence of the issue that sidelined him for the first eight games of the season.
The team had initially termed Knueppel's injury as "left leg soreness" when he left the Hornets' Nov. 4 game against the Brooklyn Nets.
Although there didn't appear to be a specific play in which Knueppel got hurt, he exited shortly after he dribbled the ball off his foot. During the play, Knueppel tried to dribble the ball behind his back, but it caromed off his right leg, forcing him to take a small step as he tried to recover it. Immediately after the play, Knueppel limped but tried to stay in the game before quickly heading to the bench. He eventually went into the locker room and did not return.
Knueppel scored 3 points, all from free throws, missed his only shot attempt, a 3-pointer, and committed 2 turnovers in 5:51 on the floor against the Nets.
Knueppel's return seemed to be coming at the perfect time for the Hornets, who had been reeling from a barrage of injuries early on this season. Instead, Knueppel is out for the foreseeable future and the Hornets have lost much of the momentum they generated last season.
Charlotte (3-7) enters Monday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on a six-game losing streak. It has already been without key players like Brandon Miller (strained right hip), Grant Williams (right hamstring strain), Dennis Schroder (left hamstring strain), center Moussa Diabate (right quad tendinopathy) and guard Coby White (left calf) due to injury through 10 games this season.
The lack of continuity is in stark contrast to last season, when the Hornets' top eight scorers all played at least 65 games and they were one of the NBA's biggest surprises. Charlotte finished with the franchise's best record in a decade (44-38) and qualified for the Eastern Conference play-in tournament as the No. 9 seed. Knueppel played 81 games as a rookie.
The injuries have also exposed the risks that came with the Hornets' offseason decision to trade LaMelo Ball. Knueppel's emergence as a rookie helped justify the move, but Charlotte's roster looks far different when he's unavailable. It certainly doesn't work without Miller, White and Diabate, too.
The good news is the bottom of the Eastern Conference appears soft. The Hornets, as much as they've struggled so far, still sit in 10th place in the standings. They might be able to stay in the postseason race without Knueppel for a month, particularly if Miller and Williams are back.
But if his absence lasts beyond Christmas, the Hornets could be staring at a lost season after finally seeming to find themselves over the past year.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kon Knueppel's latest injury setback could be crushing blow for Hornets
Source: Sports
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