The
Knueppel, who made a major impact during his debut year, sustained a left hamstring injury during offseason on-court activities. The setback comes at a difficult time for the franchise, which had been looking to integrate the sharpshooter further into the offensive scheme following the departure of LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves during the summer trade period.
Injury updates and recovery timeline
In addition to Knueppel’s injury, veteran forward Grant Williams has also been sidelined with a right hamstring issue. The Hornets have officially ruled both players out for all four of their scheduled preseason contests. According to the team's medical update, the duo will undergo further evaluation during the opening week of the regular season to determine their availability for the start of competitive play.
The absence of Knueppel is particularly notable given his record-setting performance last season. As a rookie, he led the league with 273 made 3-pointers, establishing himself as a primary scoring threat. He concluded his debut campaign with impressive averages of 18.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while maintaining a 42.5% success rate from beyond the arc. The team’s reliance on his perimeter shooting is expected to grow as they adjust to a new-look roster.
Grant Williams, a seven-year veteran, brings a different dimension to the squad with his experience and defensive presence. Throughout his career, he has maintained averages of 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. The Hornets will now look to their depth to fill the void left by these two players as they prepare for their season opener. Charlotte is scheduled to tip off their regular season campaign on the road against the Brooklyn Nets on October 21.
