Kon Knueppel is day-to-day with a left hamstring injury, an upgrade from the out designation he carried earlier Friday, but the Hornets say he will still miss the entire preseason. The 21-year-old guard-forward will not be ready when Charlotte's next game on the schedule, Oct. 6 against the Nets, arrives.
What happened
Charlotte's injury report updated Kon Knueppel to day-to-day on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7:18 p.m. ET, moving him off the out status he had carried. The listed injury is to the left hamstring, filed under leg. The Hornets said Knueppel will miss the preseason after hurting the hamstring during an offseason workout, an injury the team announced Friday alongside the status change. No additional detail on the mechanism or severity was given beyond the workout description, and Friday's entry is the first point on his timeline.
What it means for the Hornets
Charlotte's next game on the schedule is Tuesday, Oct. 6 against the Nets at 7 p.m. ET, and Knueppel is not expected to play with his hamstring still day-to-day. Last season he averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 31.5 minutes across 81 games, production the Hornets have not had to replace in a game yet since the 2026-27 season has not started. When games do get underway, the rotation minutes to watch belong to Miles Bridges (31.0 minutes, 17.1 points), Brandon Miller (30.3 minutes, 20.2 points) and LaMelo Ball (28.0 minutes, 20.1 points). Charlotte's record stands at 0-0, with no regular-season games played.
What to watch
The Hornets are expected to issue further updates on Knueppel's hamstring as his day-to-day status continues. His expected return is listed as Oct. 21, 2026, which would have him back around the start of the regular season rather than for the preseason. That timeline means he is projected to miss the Oct. 6 game against the Nets and any games before his return date.
Is Kon Knueppel playing vs. the Nets?
No. Knueppel is day-to-day with a left hamstring injury, and his expected return date of Oct. 21, 2026 comes after Charlotte's Oct. 6 game against the Nets.
When will Kon Knueppel be back?
The Hornets' injury report lists an expected return of Oct. 21, 2026, as Knueppel recovers from the left hamstring injury he suffered during an offseason workout.