Kon Knueppel, Hornets top Kings for 1st summer league crown

Field Level Media|published: Mon 21st July, 03:37 2025

NBA: Summer League-Charlotte Hornets at Dallas Mavericks

Jul 14, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) competes against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Kon Knueppel scored a team-high 21 points as the Charlotte Hornets started fast and downed the Sacramento Kings 83-78 on Sunday night in Las Vegas for their first NBA Summer League championship.

The fourth overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, the former Duke standout shot 4 of 11 from 3-point range and added five rebounds and two assists. Another rookie, second-round pick Ryan Kalkbrenner, contributed 15 points and nine rebounds.

Jaylen Sims, KJ Simpson and DJ Rodman added 11 points apiece for the Hornets, who led 34-18 after one quarter, 46-39 at halftime and 67-57 going into the final quarter.

The Kings made a charge with a 22-16 fourth quarter and got within one point on two occasions. But Knueppel, selected the title game MVP, sank a 3-pointer with 32 seconds left and a free throw with 11 ticks remaining to help the Hornets close it out.

Sacramento forward Isaac Jones had a double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds -- both game highs. Guard Devin Carter added 13 points, and rookie Nique Clifford, a first-round pick out of Colorado State, produced 10 points and eight rebounds.

--Field Level Media