yahoo
Former Duke standout Kon Knueppel finally checked into an NBA game on Wednesday night, suiting up for the Charlotte Hornets after sitting out the first eight contests with a hamstring strain. The return generated plenty of interest among Blue Devil fans eager to see the sharpshooter in action. However, the excitement was short-lived.
Knueppel logged only six minutes before experiencing renewed discomfort in his left leg, which forced him out of the game. The team officially listed the issue as left leg soreness, and he did not return to the court.
During his brief stint, the sophomore wing missed his only field-goal attempt but managed to score three points, all from the free-throw line. Following the game, Hornets head coach Charles Lee did not have a definitive update on Knueppel's condition.
"We'll evaluate him more obviously when we get home from the road trip tonight," Lee told reporters.
Meanwhile, another former Duke sharpshooter, Grayson Allen, provided a spark off the bench for Charlotte, pouring in 22 points on 5-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Sion James also contributed across the board with 10 points, three steals, two rebounds, and one assist.
Key Analysis
Knueppel's early exit casts a shadow over what was anticipated to be a promising debut. The reaggravation of his left leg injury raises concerns about his availability moving forward, especially with the Hornets set to host Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics on Friday. Allen's strong performance and James's all-around effort helped offset the loss, but the team will await further word on Knueppel's status as they return from their road trip.
Originally reported by yahoo.