SNAPSHOT
An absolute deadeye and the best shooter in the 2025 NBA Draft Class, Duke Blue Devils wing Kon Knueppel seems built for the modern game, and would be a complimentary piece to all 30 teams in the coming years.
Unmatched in his perimeter impact, Knueppel was a key piece for the Blue Devils this season and importantly, was able to shine amongst a plethora of NBA Draft prospects thanks to his ability to make his mark without needing too much of the ball.
DRAFT PROFILE
Knueppel grew up in Wisconsin, and was a key piece for his high school team, leading the side to a perfect 30-0 record and the state championship to match. He was named Wisconsin Mr. Basketball for his efforts and was named a five-star recruit.
The sharpshooter had offers from plenty of schools, but opted to play under the bright lights of the Duke program, which is renowned as the best in the world and produces NBA draftees at an extremely consistent rate, with Knueppel looking to continue that trend.
He made an immediate impact with the Blue Devils, dropping 22 points in his NCAA debut in the win over Maine to immediately storm onto the scene as an offensive weapon. On any given night for Duke, Knueppel threatened to tear the game open with his shooting, and stepped up in the ACC Championship game, being named MVP for his performance in the title game against Louisville with 18 points.
On the season, he averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.2 blocks per game across his 39 outings, all while shooting 47.9 per cent from the field, 40.6 per cent from three-point land and 91.4 per cent from the charity stripe.
His shooting was a massive weapon for the Blue Devils, and made life easier for the likes of Cooper Flagg and Khaman Maluach with his constant presence from three-point territory, which will also be appealing to NBA sides that may already have magnetizing stars as it stands.
STRENGTHS
+ Elite shooting
+ Ability to get to the rim
+ Strong decision-making
+ Adaptability in lineups
IMPROVEMENTS
- Not much athleticism
- Shot creation
As mentioned above, you would be hard pressed to find a better shooter in the draft crop than Knueppel, who is deadly at finding the bottom of the net, particularly standing still, making the most of space created by his teammates. If he can maintain his spacing and ability to get free off the ball, it will certainly open him up for excellent shots at NBA level.
Although shooting is his one-wood, he can still get to the basket in his own right. Boasting size at six-foot-seven, he has a solid ability to score in the post and can knock down turnaround jumpers from midrange as well, making his offensive game much more dynamic than first glance.
For his position, Knueppel is a rock-solid playmaker and decision maker, rarely turning the ball over and attacking closeouts well to create scoring opportunities. If he can continue to develop this at NBA level, he may have secondary ball-handling roles in the future.
Admittedly, he is not the best athlete, and often plays below the rim as a result of this, while his shot creation could also do with some work. Knueppel is deadly shooting out of the catch, but was not as effective off the dribble, so there is certainly some growth to come in his game.
DRAFT PROJECTION: Top 10
Knueppel is certainly a top-10 talent in the 2025 NBA Draft class, boasting the best perimeter shooting of any prospect and some solid other traits to balance out his game. He will be able to slot into any roster with his off-ball capabilities and may shoot into top-five contention depending on what teams up the top value.
