Kon Knueppel just made NBA history, and now the Rookie of the Year race feels wide open originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The NBA regular season ended with something you almost never see from a rookie. Kon Knueppel didn’t just hold his own. He didn’t just flash potential. He finished his first season as the league’s leader in three-pointers made.

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Not among rookies. The entire NBA.

That kind of stat forces you to pause. It is not normal. It is not something that happens by accident. And now it has completely changed how this rookie class will be judged.

Kon Knueppel just made HISTORY as the first rookie to lead the NBA in 3PM 🤯

Will he win ROTY? 👀 pic.twitter.com/GOaQzviDAC

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 13, 2026

A rookie who never looked like one

Most first-year players spend months figuring things out. The speed is different. The spacing is tighter. The defenders are stronger and smarter. Even great shooters usually need time to adjust. Knueppel never really went through that phase.

He stepped into the Charlotte Hornets lineup and immediately became one of the most dangerous shooters in the league. By the end of the season, he had knocked down 273 threes while shooting over 42 percent from deep. That is elite production, no matter your age.

And it is even more impressive when you realize how much responsibility he carried. This was not a limited role or spot-up specialist situation. He was a key part of the offense every night.

More: Victor Wembanyama clears key hurdle, keeps NBA award hopes alive in Spurs’ push season

Charlotte’s turnaround makes it matter more

Stats are one thing. Winning is another. The Hornets’ season could have gone in a completely different direction. At one point, they were 16-28 and drifting. Then everything flipped.

Charlotte closed the year 28-10 and locked up the No. 9 seed with a 110-96 win over the New York Knicks in the finale. Knueppel was a big part of that surge.

Playing alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, he gave the Hornets something they could rely on every night. His shooting stretched defenses, opened driving lanes, and made life easier for everyone around him.

Even when he is not lighting up the box score, his presence changes how teams defend Charlotte. That is a level of impact you usually do not see from a rookie.

The Rookie of the Year race just got real

For most of the season, the Rookie of the Year conversation seemed to lean toward Cooper Flagg. His all-around game, versatility, and consistency made him the safe pick. Now it is not so simple.

Knueppel has a historic accomplishment that is hard to ignore. Leading the entire league in three-pointers is not just impressive. It is something voters have to take seriously. This race now comes down to what you value more.

Flagg brings a little bit of everything. Scoring, defense, playmaking. Knueppel brings one elite skill that already bends defenses at the highest level. There is no clear answer, and that is what makes it interesting.

Why this record carries real weight

Not all stats are created equal. This one stands out because it is not just about volume. It is about consistency, confidence, and the ability to deliver every night against elite competition.

Knueppel was not picking spots or getting lucky. He was a focal point. Teams knew what was coming and still struggled to stop it. That kind of production, tied to a winning stretch, gives his Rookie of the Year case real substance.

This might just be the beginning

The most intriguing part is what comes next. Nothing about Knueppel’s game feels fluky. His shooting form is clean. His decision-making is solid. His role already fits within a winning system.

If anything, this season feels like a starting point. And if that is true, the rest of the league has a problem. Because it is one thing for a rookie to show flashes. It is another for a rookie to make history and still feel like he is just getting started.

More NBA news:

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• Celtics catch fire from deep, tie NBA record with 29 threes to clinch No. 2 seed
• NBA rumors swirl: Could Celtics really break up core for Giannis if playoffs go wrong?
• LeBron James keeps doing the impossible as Lakers star reaches unheard-of NBA milestone
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President Trump lashed out against Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, calling him "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy."

The big picture: The president's comments escalate already high tensions between the president and the first U.S.-born pope, who has spoken out on Trump administration immigration policies and the Iran war.

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Zoom in: In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump criticized the pope on matters including the Catholic church's stance during the COVID pandemic.

• "I don't want a Pope who thinks it's terrible that America attacked Venezuela," Trump wrote in an apparent reference to Leo's January expression of concern for Venezuelans following the U.S. raid and ensuing capture of leader Nicolás Maduro in the South American country.
• Trump also said he likes the pope's "brother Louis much better" than him because he claimed he "is all MAGA."

Go deeper: Iran war tips Trump-Pope tension over the edge

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