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September 29, 2025 • 9 mins

Hornet's 4th overall pick in the draft, Kon Knueppel, sits down with Wes & Walker to talk about his expectations for the upcoming season, as well as what his major takeaways from the Summer League Championship are.

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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Con Can Nipple fourth overall selection by the Charlotte Hornets
in this past selection process. He joins us now on
Weston Walker Sports Radio ninety two to seven WFNZ.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Con thank you so much for the time. Man.

Speaker 1 (00:10):
How are you doing doing well? Thanks for having me good.
It's I know, it's a whirlwind for Hornets media day.
I know usually with the rookies, they got you guys
waiting around quite a bit with Senyorty.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
How's the media daight going for you? So far?

Speaker 3 (00:22):
It's going to run a lot of stops, a lot
of pictures, a lot of smiling.

Speaker 4 (00:27):
You know, It's cool and I'm thankful the opportunity.

Speaker 1 (00:29):
Well, I'm glad you brought up the pictures because the
storyline about you, specifically, there's two storylines that seem to
be developing about conk Nipple. One it's people are surprised
about your hops. Lamello talked about that. He shook his head.
Charles Lee said the same thing, like, we didn't expect
him to have that kind of bounce. But the vertical
was good of the combine, right, wasn't it?

Speaker 2 (00:48):
Forty one? Think? What was it? What was your vertical?
Do you remember well?

Speaker 3 (00:52):
So I had to do I didn't do it at
the combine. I had to make it up, So I'm
not sure. I didn't even really look.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
You don't know your own vertical. I don't, I expect, man.
That's what everybody says, is that they were surprised by
your hops.

Speaker 1 (01:07):
But the other thing is Charles Lee and Jeff Peterson
love how you decided to wear the head band in
Summer League, that they weren't going to hold you out,
that you were going to play hell or high water,
And so with you taking the pictures, I wondered, did
you think about bringing out the head band for the
league photo that.

Speaker 4 (01:22):
You would be taking today? No, I did not think
about it.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
You hate that headband, man, I've heard you say it
a couple of times.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
How about like is that have you ever worn a
head band before playing ball? No?

Speaker 4 (01:32):
That's I mean, that's kind of kind of part of it.

Speaker 3 (01:34):
I'm kind of a stickler with you know what, Like
I got my jersey's got to be tucked in the
right way and whatever. So having something that was kind
of throwing me for a loop there. I didn't really
love it.

Speaker 5 (01:43):
Con Have you had any you know, crazy rookie duty.
So far, do you have any responsibilities with the guys
that you get donuts, that you get food, anything like that.

Speaker 3 (01:51):
You know, we haven't done anything yet. I'm looking forward
to it. I think it'll be a good opportunity. I think, uh,
you know, the guys have been treating us us rookies
well so far. But yeah, I mean, I'm looking forward
to some of that stuff and maybe there'll be some
some funny stuff going on.

Speaker 5 (02:05):
So I gotta tell you, man, I found out the
other day after I got my hair cut. My barber
He's like, hey, man, you know the rookie from the
Hornets came in here, okay, And I said, why didn't
you tell me? There's been a lot of guys that's
coming to the shop, And he doesn't tell me anything.
He's been cutting my hair since the fifth grade. If
you start a room in the back when you went
in there, he's been cutting my hair since the fifth grade.
But I saw you went into Gordon's barbershop, Man, how

(02:25):
did you discover it to go in there in the
first place.

Speaker 3 (02:29):
Yeah, I mean we got we got a bunch of
guys in the in the organization. Blaine Miller, one of
our coaches recommend recommended it. He recommended to Drew Peterson,
and then you know a couple of guys that the
equipment equipment manager goes there.

Speaker 4 (02:42):
So it was just a I guess the spot to
be there.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
Wow.

Speaker 5 (02:45):
So I guess my barber didn't even know that these
guys were coming in there and what responsibilities they have
the Charlotte Hornet. So yeah, I got to tell him
that the next time I go in there. Man. But
as far as you getting it in with the guys,
man and the practice with the team, what's that been
like for you so far?

Speaker 4 (03:00):
Yeah, it's been awesome.

Speaker 3 (03:00):
You know, I think we we talk about how it's
kind of rare that having having like the full team
here for the whole month of September now, it's kind
of rare in the NBA.

Speaker 4 (03:08):
So it was it was cool to have.

Speaker 3 (03:09):
That that opportunity and uh be able to you know,
play a bunch with the guys, and you know, it
was a really really fun and productive month.

Speaker 5 (03:17):
What's been the toughest mattp for you in practice?

Speaker 2 (03:21):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (03:21):
I mean tray Man, man, he's he's hard to guard.
I think, uh, you know, some of the some of
the he was hitting some last time we were playing,
he was hitting some step back midies and I'm like, man,
all right, that's I guess we're I guess we're gonna live.
I guess we're gonna live. But I mean, they looked
looked pretty easy. But yeah, he's he's he's definitely a tough.

Speaker 2 (03:39):
Guy of guard. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (03:40):
Well, here you are drafted and they get a whole
bunch of really tough guards to defend. What what do
you envision your role being like with a team? I
feel like it's pretty rare build with all the guards
they have. Like you guys don't have a lot of centers,
but you have fun different types of centers. And yet
you signed all the backcourt players. So how do you
envision your role filling in with some of the bets
that they signed.

Speaker 3 (03:59):
Yeah, I mean I think I feel pretty confidently about
my ability to play off ball, really confident that ability.

Speaker 2 (04:06):
You know.

Speaker 3 (04:06):
I think having a bunch of guards is something that
you know makes it hard for the opposing team to guard.
I think for us it opposes a challenge of we
got a rebound, But I do I do think when
you have a bunch of talented basketball players like we
saw the Pacers last year, like they threw a bunch
of guards out there and played good basketball and they
played really fast, And I think that's something that we

(04:26):
want to do this year as well.

Speaker 2 (04:27):
Well. I mean we've talked about it a bunch. Man.

Speaker 1 (04:29):
Leaning into an oddity about your team I think is awesome,
Like if you have a different build from everybody else,
lean into it, you guys are gonna be fast as hell.
I note that that has been something Charles Lee has
preached about, so I'm excited to see the strategy and
how he's going to deploy everybody this upcoming season. I
did want to talk here we are discussing his role.
What about Bill Simmons just guaranteeing you a spot on

(04:50):
Team USA in twenty twenty eight.

Speaker 2 (04:52):
You had to see that clip, right, Yeah? I saw it?
So is he right?

Speaker 1 (04:56):
Like, can we just go ahead and guarantee it right here,
right now? You're gonna be on Team USA in twenty
twenty eight.

Speaker 3 (05:00):
I don't know, I think it's pretty insane to do that,
uh before before I play a single NBA game. Yeah,
I don't know. I mean I think I think some
of his reasons about it were good, like you know,
having a guy that's that's willing to do whatever role.
And I think I do play the euro the European
style game pretty well.

Speaker 4 (05:20):
I'd fit. But we'll see.

Speaker 5 (05:23):
I think it's always interesting, man, because coming out of
high school you are a top flight recruit. Then you
go to do it with huge expectations. Is this anything
new for you coming into a team? Is the fourth
pick of the draft? Do you feel any extra expectations
than you normally have throughout your basketball career.

Speaker 3 (05:39):
I try not to let the outside outside stuff away
on me at all. I think, focusing on what I
can do to contribute to the team, and uh, you
know what what they're gonna do, and what the other
guys are going to contribute. Focusing on all that stuff.
And then's something that Seeley's talked about with the whole group,
not focusing on the outside noise and and all that.
And I think that's something I tried to embody throughout

(05:59):
my career. So it's just something I'll keep on doing.

Speaker 4 (06:02):
The pros.

Speaker 5 (06:02):
What's the biggest takeaway that you got from winning that
Summer League championship?

Speaker 3 (06:09):
You know, I think that you know, like seeing the
reaction for like I mean, I think most teams like
or most most fans like Summer League Championship, Like it's
cool to watch the basketball in this in the summer,
but like do they really really care that much? But
to see how much like the people Charlotte, I actually
actually thought that was really cool and a cool thing
for the Hornets. Just shows that we want to go
to basketball team in Charlotte and here in North Carolina.

(06:30):
So I think this is a basketball state and we
want to we want to be we want to be
good and represent the fans.

Speaker 1 (06:35):
Well, I waited in line for a long time and
paid fifty bucks. I paid fifty bucks for that T shirt.
We care, Okay, I'm willing to pay fifty bucks for
that Summer League title shirt. It's okay, I'm not thinking
about it. Everything's fine. It's con Kinnipple joining us here
on West and Walker Sports Rady ninety two seven WFNZ.
So you did appear at Bill Simmons. It's gotta be
a little biased too, because he's I feel like you're

(06:56):
his guy.

Speaker 4 (06:57):
Yeah, he had me on, so I think I think
he maybe he got to go impression of me. So
I don't know. He's a nice guy.

Speaker 2 (07:02):
He was a good pod.

Speaker 1 (07:03):
But I do think listening to that, it feels like
you're a basketball historian a little bit. So I'll get
we don't have to go through any drama. You don't
have to name a player on the team right now.
I don't want to hear Lamello or Brandon. But going
back in basketball history with the Hornets, do you have
a favorite player that suited up in the purple and
teal that's not on the roster right now.

Speaker 4 (07:18):
It's on the roster right now. I mean I think
Al Jefferson.

Speaker 2 (07:23):
I mean that's such a sick oh answer.

Speaker 3 (07:25):
I just like I just post moves, like I missed
that type of basketball.

Speaker 4 (07:28):
You know.

Speaker 1 (07:29):
My favorite thing is him with the one hand grab.
Nobody like to throw. To have that basketball in one
hand and then get a shoulder in you and it's
like guards will come down and knock it away. Except
for Al Big. Al is the best, biggest paint, best
marketing track.

Speaker 3 (07:43):
One dribble or no dribbles like that in the in
the post, I think that's really admirable.

Speaker 1 (07:47):
Al Jefferson is the man here, all right. Con Knipple,
join us, you got anything else?

Speaker 5 (07:50):
The rookie so quick Man, what do you think about
your Blue Devils this year?

Speaker 1 (07:54):
Man?

Speaker 5 (07:54):
They look loaded and primed again. Are they gonna get
the title? Man, we need a prediction from Conka Nipple.

Speaker 3 (07:59):
Yeah, I mean, I think they're gonna have a really
good team. Coach Shires always load in the non conference schedule.
Gotta love it, you know, he wants a bunch of
good games and wants the team tested in the season
so they can be the best they can be in March.
I think I think they you're gonna do that. Schedule
is designed to drop a few, so I think they will.
But I think they've got a really really good team.
And though I think they're gonna win the a SEC
and then hopefully, you know, win a couple of games

(08:20):
in tournament and and get get to that final four.

Speaker 1 (08:23):
Again, I did have one more question. I just remembered
I wanted to get to this as well. But with
the Summer League championship, Man, you are right like this
fan base cares a lot about that. That was awesome
to see with some of the rookies winning. It was
a rough stretch for you in terms of scoring the
basketball at first. I know you talked about that a
little bit but it feels like you bounce back real nicely,

(08:44):
Like especially with the way that you performed the last
couple of games of Summer League. What was that experience
like for you to experience the lows at the very
beginning and the highs of winning it with you being
a huge part as to why you want it.

Speaker 3 (08:55):
Yeah, I mean I think you know, it took a
little bit to just get adjusted. You know, I never
play with those guys before. We practiced like four times,
so gett adjusted to like all the players around you.
That's something for me that's kind of important, you know,
just when I'm going out there and playing, but also
just a quick reality check of the NBA, Like you
got to move on to the next game, and you can't.

Speaker 4 (09:17):
You can't dwell and stuff like that.

Speaker 3 (09:18):
The game there's not half the games like there's we
played thirty nine in college, Like the games mean a
little bit a little bit more each individual game, but
you just got to move on, get ready for the
next one, take what you learned from the last one
and apply it. And I think that was a good
lesson at Summer League.

Speaker 1 (09:32):
Team USA twenty twenty eight members joining us on Weston
Walker Sports Radio ninety two to seven.

Speaker 2 (09:38):
W fas, get those jerseys orders. I've already got pre ordered.
It's happening.

Speaker 1 (09:42):
Yeah, fourth overall pick, con joining us here on Hornets
Media Day con Thanks for the time, man, Thank you man,
thank you.
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