Kon Knueppel is out for Friday's game against the Hawks with a left hamstring injury, a day after he was listed as day-to-day. Charlotte is 1-0 and will again play without the guard-forward, who averaged 18.5 points last season.
What happened
Kon Knueppel will not play Friday against the Hawks. The Hornets' 21-year-old guard-forward was ruled out on the injury report Thursday at 5:24 p.m. ET with a left hamstring injury. He had been listed as day-to-day on Wednesday. The report's comment reads: "Knueppel (hamstring) is out for Friday's game against the Hawks." His status has changed all week. He was out on Tuesday, Oct. 20, then day-to-day on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The same left hamstring first put him on the report on Sept. 25, when he was listed as out and then moved to day-to-day the same day.
What it means for the Hornets
Charlotte hosts Atlanta on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. ET. The Hornets are 1-0, sixth in the standings, and won their only game without Knueppel. Last season he played 81 games and averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 31.5 minutes. In the game without him, Brandon Miller played 35.6 minutes and scored 18 points. Dennis Schroder had 19 points in 34.7 minutes, Naz Reid had 20 in 32.7 and Grayson Allen had 21 in 28.8. Moussa Diabate added 17 in 33.6 minutes. Sion James played 26.8 minutes and Royce O'Neale played 17.1. Grant Williams, Coby White and Kylan Boswell are also out.
What to watch
The injury report lists an expected return date of Saturday, Oct. 24. That is a target, not a confirmed return. His status has changed three times in three days: out on Tuesday, day-to-day on Wednesday, out again on Thursday. The next report will show whether he stays on that timeline. Williams, White and Boswell also remain out, so Charlotte's rotation stays short until some of them return.
Is Kon Knueppel playing against the Hawks on Friday?
No. The injury report lists him as out for Friday's game against the Hawks at 7 p.m. ET with a left hamstring injury.
When will Kon Knueppel be back?
The injury report lists an expected return date of Saturday, Oct. 24. A confirmed return has not been announced.