Kon Knueppel has made his decision. After a year of highlight-reel performances, clutch shots, and steady development at Duke University, the 6-foot-6 swingman has officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft. The announcement, while expected in some circles, still reverberated across the college basketball landscape, as one of the sport’s most skilled and cerebral wings will now take his talents to the next level.
It’s a moment that has been building since long before Knueppel arrived on the campus in Durham. A consensus five-star prospect out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Knueppel brought with him an old-school game and a modern frame. His high basketball IQ, elite shooting touch, and a surprisingly physical edge made him a fan favorite at Duke almost instantly. Though his freshman season didn’t come with the nightly SportsCenter highlights of other one-and-done stars, his impact was just as significant—often showing up in the details that only true basketball heads could appreciate.
From the start of his Duke tenure, Knueppel’s approach was methodical. He was never in a rush to prove anything. He let the game come to him. In a world obsessed with flash, he embraced fundamentals. His footwork was crisp, his shooting mechanics repeatable, and his understanding of spacing and timing was more reminiscent of a seasoned pro than a teenager playing his first collegiate minutes. There was something about his presence that calmed Duke’s offense—he always seemed to know exactly where to be and when to be there.
Statistically, Knueppel’s season was solid. He averaged 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 46 percent from the field and a blistering 41 percent from beyond the arc. But those numbers only scratch the surface. His efficiency, particularly in crunch time, helped Duke navigate through tight ACC battles. More than once, head coach Jon Scheyer praised Knueppel’s poise and decision-making in postgame pressers, noting that his value “goes far beyond the box score.”
There were defining moments along the way—moments that turned skeptics into believers and believers into diehards. His 24-point performance in a road win at North Carolina silenced the Dean Dome and reminded everyone of why he was so highly touted coming out of high school. There was the buzzer-beater against Miami, where he calmly took a dribble, rose above a double-team, and buried a mid-range jumper to steal a win. And there were the less glamorous, but equally vital, plays: a key box-out that sealed a possession, a defensive rotation that led to a steal, a no-look pass that set up a teammate in perfect rhythm.
Knueppel’s teammates respected him not just for his talent, but for his temperament. He wasn’t loud. He didn’t pound his chest or seek the spotlight. He worked. He studied film. He lifted. He stayed late after practice, fine-tuning his release and repping the same moves over and over until they became second nature. In a locker room filled with ambition and future pros, Knueppel distinguished himself as someone more concerned with substance than shine.
Still, the decision to leave was not one he took lightly. Throughout the season, there were rumors that Knueppel might stay another year. He had spoken publicly about how much he valued the Duke experience—about how being part of the brotherhood, competing in Cameron Indoor, and learning under Scheyer had shaped him as both a player and a person. At one point, sources close to the program suggested he was seriously considering returning for a sophomore season, especially with the opportunity to take on a leadership role and chase a national title. But ultimately, the call of the NBA proved too strong.
In a statement released on social media, Knueppel expressed gratitude for his time at Duke. “This has been the most transformative year of my life,” he wrote. “I’ve grown in ways I never imagined—on the court and off it. I’ll forever be grateful to Coach Scheyer, the entire staff, and my brothers in that locker room. I came here to be part of something bigger than myself, and Duke gave me that and more. With that said, after much thought and prayer, I’ve decided to declare for the 2025 NBA Draft and take the next step in my journey.”
The reaction was swift and emotional. Duke fans flooded his mentions with thanks and well wishes. Teammates reposted the message with their own notes of support. Analysts and scouts quickly began updating their draft boards, with Knueppel climbing into the late lottery in several projections. One scout noted, “He’s one of the most NBA-ready wings in this class. You know exactly what you’re getting—smart, tough, efficient, and unselfish. He may not be the flashiest guy, but he’s going to help you win games.”
Indeed, Knueppel’s appeal to NBA teams is rooted in his versatility and professionalism. He can play the two or the three, handle the ball, shoot from distance, defend multiple positions, and function as a secondary playmaker. His game is well-suited to the modern NBA, where spacing, decision-making, and adaptability are paramount. And perhaps most importantly, he projects as someone who won’t need years of seasoning to make an impact. He’s plug-and-play from day one.
What sets Knueppel apart isn’t just what he does—it’s how he does it. He plays like someone who has been studying the game his entire life, which, in fact, he has. His father was a former college player and coach, and his upbringing was steeped in hoops culture. From a young age, Kon was dissecting plays, learning footwork drills, and emulating the likes of Manu Ginóbili, Joe Ingles, and Klay Thompson. He absorbed the nuances of the game, the angles, the timing, the decision trees that unfold in real-time. That intellectual approach gave him a foundation that few prospects his age possess.
As the pre-draft process begins, Knueppel will have the opportunity to showcase those skills in new settings. He’ll participate in workouts, team interviews, and possibly the NBA Draft Combine. While others will try to impress with vertical leaps and raw athleticism, Knueppel’s stock will rise through clean shooting displays, flawless three-man weaves, and detailed answers about team systems and coverages. He is the kind of player NBA coaches love to coach—someone who makes the game easier for those around him.
The comparisons are starting to roll in. Some see shades of a young Gordon Hayward in his all-around polish. Others draw parallels to Josh Hart, given his rebounding ability and physicality at the wing. A few whisper that he could become a taller version of Malcolm Brogdon—an underappreciated glue guy who simply gets the job done, night in and night out. None of those comparisons are perfect, but they all point to the same truth: Kon Knueppel is built to last in the NBA.
What his role will look like at the next level will depend on where he lands. On a veteran-laden team, he could serve as a rotation player who brings shooting, spacing, and steady defense. On a rebuilding squad, he might be given more ball-handling duties and room to expand his offensive arsenal. In either case, Knueppel has the foundation to succeed, because he doesn’t need the ball to be effective—but he can do a lot with it when given the chance.
For Duke, his departure marks the end of a short but meaningful chapter. In an era where one-and-done players are sometimes seen as transient figures, Knueppel left a lasting imprint. He represented the program with class, gave everything he had, and treated every game like a privilege. His story at Duke might have only lasted one season, but it was a season worth remembering.